Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- Junior RF Tyler Thompson went 2-3 with a home run while knocking in three runs as the Portland Pilots picked up a West Coast Conference victory over the Santa Clara Broncos by a score of 11-6 at Stephen Schott Stadium on Friday night. The Pilots have now won seven straight as sophomore P Kyle Kraus picked up his conference leading fifth win of the season.
Thompson hit his second home run of the season with one out in the top of the second inning to give the Pilots (17-6, 2-0 WCC) a 1-0 lead and then tripled in two runs as part of a four run third. Junior DH Kevin Armijo added a two-run shot on a full count in the seventh, his third of the season. The Pilots led by as many as seven on two separate occasions.
Santa Clara (12-13, 0-2 WCC) struggled to find a rhythm at the plate early in the game. The Broncos did not push across their first run until the fourth inning after loading the bases with a double from junior 1B Curtis Wagner and two walks. A wild pitch by Kraus allowed Wagner to score but that was all the Broncos could muster. Santa Clara added three two-out runs in the fifth. Wagner, who entered the game leading the conference with a .421 average, finished with three hits and two runs.
Kraus (5-0), coming off back-to-back complete games, could not continue his trend of pitching deep into games. Having walked just six batters all season, Kraus walked three Broncos in 5.0 innings of work. This marks just the third time in 18 career starts that Kraus has walked more than two batters.
Santa Clara senior Alex Rivers (2-4) suffered the loss. He allowed seven runs, three earned, on six hits in 3.2 innings pitched. The right-hander struck out three while issuing two free passes. The Broncos used just two relievers over the final 5.1 innings while four Portland relievers combined to work the last 4.0 innings. Portland pitchers benefited from three double plays.
Junior Scott Burris made his first relief appearance since his freshman year to help preserve the Pilots victory. With the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth, the lefthander entered the game and induced an inning ending fly out to keep the Pilots lead at five. Junior Chris Dennis recorded the final three outs of the ballgame in a non-save situation.
The Pilots finished the game with 13 hits, one error, and stranded seven runners. Santa Clara committed four errors. They finished with 12 hits but stranded nine runners.
The Pilots look for a series when the teams conclude the series with a noon game on Saturday. Sophomore Owen Jones (1-0, 0.00 ERA) toes the rubber against Bronco freshman Chris Mendoza (2-0, 3.80 ERA).
