PORTLAND, Ore. --- Junior OF Kramer Scott went 2-for-4 with three RBI and redshirt-junior Owen Jones tossed 5.0 innings as the Portland Pilots defeated the George Fox Bruins 7-2 on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Four Pilot relievers combined with Jones to hold off the Bruins for the win.
Scott, who drove in four runs all of last season in limited playing time, stepped up with one out in the bottom of the second and runners on first and second. After a wild pitch advanced the runners one base, Scott lined a 2-1 pitch down the leftfield line for a two-run RBI double and gave the Pilots (4-0) a 3-1 lead.
George Fox (9-1) had taken the lead in the top of the first with two outs. With Dan Winterstein on second, the Bruins recorded back-to-back infield singles to push the first run across.
The Pilots added three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Junior catcher Beau Fraser led things off with a double and scored on freshman Turner Gill’s single to center. Gill came around to score later in the inning on a single by Scott. Scott, with heads-up baserunning, advanced to second on the throw to plate and then swiped an unoccupied third base. Junior Kris Kauppila then singled up the middle to give the Pilots a 7-1 lead.
Jones (1-0), making his second start of the season, lasted 5.0 innings. He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out four. The one run he allowed was earned.
Kyle Albertson (1-0), making a spot start for the Bruins, lasted four innings. He gave up seven hits and four runs, all earned, without walking or striking out a batter. Eric Gantenbein, Albertson’s battery-mate, recorded a two-hit game.
Scott, Gill, and sophomore Brian Fratalli all recorded multi-hit games as the Pilots totaled 12 as a team. George Fox finished with seven hits. Neither team committed an error.
Portland heads down to Eugene, Ore., on Tuesday, March 1, for a 5:00 p.m. game against the Oregon Ducks. The Pilots then head to Seattle for a three-game series with the Seattle Redhawks starting on Friday, March 4.
