Box Score I
Video Highlights
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to hand starting pitcher Kyle Kraus all the run support he would need as the Pilots opened a three-game West Coast Conference series with a 2-1 win over the San Francisco Dons on a wet Thursday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Kraus, a senior, picks up his 25th career win, which matches the most career wins by a pitcher in UP program history.
Former Portland pitcher Wes Smith (1978-81) also compiled 25 career wins.
The Pilots snap a six-game losing skid to the Dons, improving to 17-7 overall and to 4-3 in the WCC. The Dons drop to 14-18 and to 1-3 in the conference.
The Pilots were aggressive at the plate in the bottom of the first inning, getting to heralded USF starter Kyle Zimmer for the two early runs. Senior shortstop Kris Kauppila led off the frame with a double, and sophomore center fielder Nick Armenta followed with an infield single.
Turner Gill then hit a sacrifice fly to center field that was deep enough to score Kauppila, and just like that the Pilots led 1-0.
Then after Beau Fraser flied out to center, Caleb Whalen hit a single into the gap in left-center field. An alert Armenta would race all the way around to score from first base as the Pilots claimed the 2-0 lead.
The two-run cushion was more than enough for Kraus (5-2), who worked 8.0 scoreless innings. The native of West Linn, Ore., fanned six, allowed just six hits and didn’t issue a walk. This marks the fifth time this season that Kraus has tossed 8.0 innings or more.
San Francisco did score a run in the ninth inning off of Portland closer Owen Jones, but Jones was able to recover and retire the final two batters of the game with a runner on base to earn his 10th save of the year. Jones is already approaching Portland’s single-season saves record of 14, which was set by Chris Dennis in 2010.
Zimmer (2-3) settled down after that first inning and would go the distance on the hill for the Dons. He also allowed six hits, while striking out nine.
USF’s lone run was unearned as the Dons capitalized on a Portland miscue in the ninth. It was the only error of the game as both teams were solid in the field.
The Pilots and Dons will next take Friday off before concluding the series with a double header on Saturday at Joe Etzel Field. Game one is set to begin at 12 p.m.
