Box Score I Video Highlights

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Saint Mary’s Gaels scored two runs in the top of the first inning and got a solid performance on the mound by starter Martin Agosta en route to a 4-1 win over the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference baseball game played on a sunny Friday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Turner Gill knocked in Portland’s only run of the game with a double in the bottom of the first inning.
 
The Gaels (23-24, 7-12) jumped out to a fast start against UP starter Kyle Kraus (6-4) in the top of the first inning. Saint Mary’s put together three hits during the frame, and Collin Ferguson and Brenden Kalfus both registered RBI singles to hand the Gaels an early 2-0 lead.
 
Portland (23-18, 10-9) responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning after Sam Westendorf reached on a one-out infield single. Gill followed with a long fly ball to deep left-center field that missed leaving the ballpark by two feet. Gill settled for the RBI double, which pulled the Pilots within a run.
 
But that’s all the scoring Portland would get on the afternoon as Agosta (9-2) tallied 12 strikeouts in 8.0 innings and was able to work out of a couple of jams. In the bottom of the sixth inning with the Gaels leading by three runs, the Pilots were able to load the bases with no outs. But Agosta responded by fanning three straight batters to end the inning and the threat.
 
Agosta allowed just six hits on the day, while Patrick Keene pitched a perfect ninth to earn his seventh save of the year.
 
Kraus takes the loss after throwing 7.0 innings. He finished with six K’s, while surrendering a pair of walks and eight hits. Left-handed reliever Keeler Brynteson held the Gaels scoreless on one hit during the final two innings.
 
Saint Mary’s finished with nine hits and committed one error. The Pilots had two errors, one of which led to an unearned run in the third inning. Chris Murphy knocked in the Gaels’ fourth and final run with a two-out RBI single in the sixth.
 
Gill had three of Portland’s hits, while Westendorf had two.
 
The Pilots and Gaels continue their three-game WCC series with a game tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field.