Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- After Portland had tied it with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Oregon Ducks responded with two in the top of the eighth before holding on for a 6-4 win over the Pilots in a non-conference baseball game on Wednesday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Kramer Scott went 3-for-3 for the Pilots, while Matt Mardesich belted his fourth home run of the season.
The Ducks, who did all of their scoring in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, improve to 15-15 with just their second win against the Pilots in seven tries since restoring their baseball program in 2009. Portland drops to 12-17.
After the Pilots led for most of the game, Oregon scored two in the sixth and two more in the seventh to claim a 4-2 lead. But Portland had an answer in the bottom of the seventh, as both Jeff Melby and Kris Kauppila knocked in a run. First Melby scored Sam Westendorf with a safety squeeze bunt, then Kauppila came through with a clutch, two-out single to center field that brought home Brian Frattali with the tying run.
But Portland was unable to hold the lead as the Ducks responded with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, both of which were unearned. After the lead-off hitter reached on an error, Paul Eshleman gave the Ducks the lead with an RBI single up the middle. Moments later, the score was 6-4 after Brett Thomas doubled to right-center field, allowing Marcus Piazzisi to score.
The Pilots were able to get runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom half of the frame, but Oregon’s Kellen Moen battled through the wind and rain to fan Westendorf and end the threat.
Moen would also overcome an Oregon error in the ninth to pick up his fifth save of the year. Reliever Scott McGough (1-4) gets the win, despite allowing a run on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings. The Ducks used five pitchers on the day, including starter Ryon Healy, who lasted just 3.0 innings.
Zach Nice (0-1) picks up the tough loss after tossing just a third of an inning.
It was all Pilots early as Mardesich drilled a two-run home run deep over the left field fence to give the Pilots a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. That’s all starter Matt McCallister would need as he cruised through the first five innings. His final line included just three hits and a walk, while the sophomore righty K’d a career-high eight.
McCallister was charged with two runs after leaving in the sixth with two on and no outs. Brent Miller followed McCallister, while Chris Dennis tossed the final 1.2 innings.
Oregon finished with a 10-7 advantage in hits.
The Pilots, who sit at 2-1 in the West Coast Conference, next welcome conference foe San Francisco to Joe Etzel Field for a three-game series this weekend. Friday’s game is set for 3:00 p.m., while first pitch on both Saturday and Sunday is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
