Box Scores: Game 1 I
Game 2
PORTLAND, Ore. --- After Brigham Young claimed the first game of a double header 3-2 in 12 innings, the Pilots bounced back to win the second game 3-1 in West Coast Conference baseball action played on Friday afternoon at Hilken Stadium. The Pilots and Cougars will play the rubber match of the three-game WCC series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at UP’s Joe Etzel Field.
Portland now sits at 14-4 overall on the year, while opening the conference slate with a 1-1 mark. BYU is 8-9 overall and 3-2 in the WCC.
The Pilots had their chances in the first game, but it was BYU who took advantage of their opportunities. Two of the Cougars three runs were unearned, and Portland left the potential winning run on third base in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Portland starter Kyle Kraus (3-2) worked all the way into the 12th inning, but would be saddled with the loss. It was his error in the 12th that allowed BYU’s Dillon Robinson to reach base and advance to second with no outs. Kelton Caldwell then sacrificed Robinson to third base before Stephen Wells brought home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to left field.
BYU reliever Mason Marshall (1-0) would then retire the Pilots in order in the bottom of the 12th to pick up his first win of the year.
Only four pitchers total were used during the 12-inning game, with Portland’s Owen Jones facing two batters after relieving Kraus. Kraus, a senior right-hander, allowed just five hits in 11.1 innings of work, while fanning one and not issuing a walk.
BYU starter Chris Capper tossed 9.0 innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits and pair of walks. He struck out five before giving way to Marshall, who was nearly perfect in 3.0 innings. Marshall allowed just one hit, didn’t walk a batter and K’d three.
The Cougars scored the game’s first run with an unearned run in the top of the first. Portland bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs and runners and second and third, Turner Gill smacked a two-run single to center field to hand the Pilots a 2-1 lead.
The Cougars then tied the score with a run in the top of the fourth. Robinson hit a one-out triple before scoring on a ground out by Caldwell.
Portland held an 8-5 advantage in hits in the first game, but the Pilots did commit three errors.
All of UP’s scoring in game number two came in the third inning, and the three runs were more than enough for Portland starter Travis Radke (4-1). Radke kept the Cougars guessing during 7.1 innings, as the freshman left-hander surrendered no walks and just four hits. Radke, who struck out five straight hitters during one stretch, finished with nine strikeouts.
Jones followed two relievers out of the Portland bullpen to register his seventh save of the season. The senior right-hander retired all three batters he faced, two via strike outs, with a runner on third.
BYU starter Mark Anderson (4-1) struggled with his control and lasted just 2.2 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits and five walks. Two relievers held Portland scoreless after the three-run third.
After retiring the first two hitters in the third, Anderson allowed one run in on a wild pitch, and he forced two more runs in courtesy bases loaded walks.
BYU’s one run came in the top of the eighth inning when Tanner Chauncey picked up an RBI on an infield single that scored Wells, who had reached on an error.
Both teams had five hits in the second game.
Portland moved the first two games of the series with BYU to Concordia’s Hilken Stadium due to wet conditions at Joe Etzel Field. The series now moves back to Portland’s usual home ballpark for the finale on Saturday.
