Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- Portland senior starter Kyle Kraus was in control on the mound and freshman Caleb Whalen belted a solo home run as the Pilots defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 3-1 in the opening game of a three-game West Coast Conference series at Stephen Schott Stadium on Friday night. With 24 career wins, Kraus is now just one W shy of matching Wes Smith for the all-time career wins record at UP.
Smith compiled 25 career wins for the Pilots from 1978 until 1981.
The Pilots improve to 10 games above .500 on the season at 15-5, while evening their WCC record at 2-2. Santa Clara falls to 15-8 overall and to 0-4 in the conference.
Kraus (4-2) was given all the run support he would need when Portland plated a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. With no score and no outs, Whalen followed a lead-off walk to Turner Gill with a double down the left field line to give Portland runners on second and third. Chet Thompson would then knock in the game’s first run with an RBI ground out to the shortstop.
Two batters later with Whalen on third and two outs, Beau Fraser gave the Pilots a two-run cushion with an RBI infield single.
The 2-0 lead was comfortable enough for Kraus, who worked all the way into the ninth inning. He allowed just four hits, struck out seven and walked only one. Santa Clara’s lone run was an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning.
Kraus gave way to Portland senior closer Owen Jones with a runner on and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Jones easily retired the two batters he faced, including a strike out to end the game to pick up his eighth save of the year.
Tommy Nance (3-1) went the distance for the Broncos, but suffers his first loss of the season. The Pilots had eight hits against Nance, who walked one and struck out four.
Whalen hit his third home run of the season with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the sixth inning. His blast to left field provided a little insurance for Portland.
Whalen finished with three of Portland’s eight hits, while Kris Kauppila added two hits.
Game two of this league series is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Stephen Schott Stadium. The series finale is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday.
