Box Score
EUGENE, Ore. --- Freshman right-hander Chris Johnson tossed seven scoreless innings and junior closer Chris Dennis moved into a tie for the national lead with his 13th save of the season as the No. 22 Portland Pilots defeated the No. 19 Oregon Ducks 3-1 Tuesday night at PK Park. It marks the 11th consecutive win for the Pilots and runs Portland’s win streak to four games against the Ducks.
With 11 straight victories, Portland (31-9) matched the second longest winning streak in program history which was set in 1980. The Pilot record is 14 consecutive wins in 1958.
Johnson was dominant in his second straight midweek start for the Pilots, holding the Ducks scoreless while surrendering just four hits and striking out five. He improved to 3-1 on the season while running his scoreless streak to 14.2 innings. Johnson’s last start was a 3-2 win at Washington on April 20, when he threw six shutout innings. His ERA dropped to a miniscule 1.38 for the season.
Dennis entered the game trailing two closers for the national lead in saves. He joined the club by recording the final five outs, although losing the shutout in the ninth on a solo home run by Eddie Rodriguez.
Portland wasted little time in jumping on the Ducks (30-15), scoring two runs in the top of the first inning off of starter Joey Housey (2-1). Sophomore SS Kris Kauppila led off with a single and advanced to second when CF Craig Smith was hit by a pitch. Kauppila would score two batters later on a sacrifice fly by DH Beau Fraser and then Smith scored on a single by RF Kyle Haskin.
It became a pitcher’s duel thereafter as both sides were held scoreless until the seventh inning. Oregon reliever Madison Boer shut the Pilots out for four innings before junior Nick Armenta reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Ducks. Senior C Rocky Gale plated Armenta with a one-out single to give the Pilots an insurance run.
After allowing two hits in the first inning, Johnson coasted through the seventh allowing just three more base-runners before head coach Chris Sperry went to the bullpen.
Senior LHP Ed Wakefield recorded the first out of the eighth before walking K.C. Serna on four pitches. Sperry then went to his closer to finish off the Ducks. Dennis struck out Shawn Peterson and Gale threw out Serna trying to steal second to end the inning. Gale has now thrown out 13 of 16 would-be base-stealers on the season.
Dennis allowed the ninth inning solo homer, but retired the side as Portland celebrated yet another crucial win in its push to make the postseason for the first time since 1991.
The Pilots will return to Joe Etzel Field for a critical three-game West Coast Conference homestand this weekend. Portland (30-9, 11-1 WCC) will host the No. 23 San Diego Toreros (27-16, 12-0 WCC) with first place on the line. The three-game series begins Friday at 3 p.m., and concludes with 1 p.m. games on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday will be Senior Day as five Pilot seniors will be honored before the first pitch.
