SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Freshman CF Nick Armenta had three hits and knocked in two runs but it was not enough as the Portland Pilots dropped the West Coast Conference series finale to the San Francisco Dons Sunday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond by a score of 4-2. All nine Pilot starters recorded a hit, but the Pilots stranded 11 runners.
Portland (31-16, 11-7 WCC), has now dropped 7 consecutive games including the last six in conference play. Sophomore Owen Jones pitched 5.0 solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits. The righty struck out five while walking three. Senior lefty Ed Wakefield (1-1) gets saddled with the loss despite not allowing a hit.
Wakefield relieved Jones after the first two Dons (27-25,10-8 WCC) reached base in the bottom of the sixth. After walking Stephen Yarrow to load the bases, Wakefield induced an RBI groundout followed by a sacrifice fly. Freshman Chris Johnson, who pitched 2.0 innings for the Pilots on Sunday, allowed an RBI single to the first batter he faced to give the Dons the lead.
Matt Hiserman scattered 10 hits over 5.0 innings for San Francisco but he walked none and struck out five. Reliever Alex Kaolgrides (2-1) picked up the win by pitching 1.2 innings while Haden Hinkle notched his second save of the season, striking out four Pilots in 2.1 innings.
Portland’s only two runs came early in the game off of Hiserman. Senior C Rocky Gale led off the second with his first of two doubles on the afternoon and game around to score on a Baltimore chopper back to the mound off the bat of Armenta. Junior Tyler Thompson singled to lead off the fourth, coming around to score on Armenta’s single to right later in the inning.
Yarrow capped off a big weekend for the Dons by clubbing his conference-leading 17th home run of the season to give San Francisco a two run cushion in the eighth inning.
Portland returns to Joe Etzel Field for the final regular season game of the 2010 season as the Oregon Ducks come to the Bluff on Tuesday, May 18. The Pilots look to end a seven game skid that started after the Pilots defeated Oregon by a 3-1 margin on May 4 in Eugene. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00pm. Probable pitchers for Tuesday’s game are to be announced.
