Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- Three Portland pitchers combined to hold Santa Clara to just two hits and freshman Caleb Whalen belted his second home run in as many days as the Pilots shutout the Broncos 2-0 in a West Coast Conference baseball game played on a wet Saturday night at Stephen Schott Stadium. The game was delayed about 40 minutes by rain in the seventh inning.
It’s the second straight win over the Broncos for the Pilots (16-5, 3-2 WCC), who will go for the series sweep tomorrow. Portland claimed Friday’s series opener 3-1.
Travis Radke (5-1) was dominant on the mound for Portland, holding the Broncos to just one hit in 6.0 innings of work. The freshman left-hander struck out a pair, while also walking two.
Whalen provided what proved to be the only offense Portland would need when he left the yard in the top of the fifth inning. His lead-off solo blast to left field is his fourth home run on the year, and it gave the Pilots a 1-0 lead.
Portland’s second run came in the top of the seventh inning when Beau Fraser drilled an RBI double to left field to hand the Pilots the 2-0 advantage.
That’s when the rain set in, and the delay would force Radke from the game. But freshman right-hander Kody Watts took over from where Radke left off, tossing two scoreless innings of relief. Portland senior closer Owen Jones pitched the ninth inning to record his ninth save of the season after allowing a lead-off single.
Santa Clara (15-9, 0-5 WCC) used four pitchers on the night, with Mike Couch (1-3) taking the loss. Couch was charged with both Portland runs.
The third and final game of this three-game WCC set is scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m. at Stephen Schott Stadium.
