Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland sophomore starter Travis Radke recorded 14 strikeouts and junior Colin Sowers hit what would prove to be the game-winning home run in the sixth inning as the Pilots opened a three-game series with a 4-2 win over the UC Riverside Highlanders on Friday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Radke, a left-hander, becomes the 11th pitcher in the 90-year history of the UP baseball program to record at least 14 K’s in a game.
 
Game two of this non-conference series is set for Saturday at Joe Etzel Field. The starting time has been moved up to 10 a.m. as the two teams will try to avoid possible rain showers, which are predicted to roll in during the afternoon.
 
Radke is the first Portland pitcher to accomplish to fan at least 14 batters since Kyle Kraus did it back in 2010. Jim Golden and Tom Hannibal share the all-time program record for strikeouts in a game with 16. Golden K’d 16 during a seven-inning game in 1967, while Hannibal matched him three years later.
 
Radke had a little defensive help in the top of the first inning before settling into a groove. After the first two Riverside runners reached base to begin the game, the Pilots turned an inning-ending triple play. With both runners on the move, Clayton Prestridge lined out to Jeff Melby at third, who threw it to second base for the force out before Cody Lenahan tossed it to first base for another force out and the third out of the inning.
 
The Pilots then scored a run in the bottom of the first inning and another in the third to claim a 2-0 lead. Beau Fraser had an RBI single to center field in the first and Melby tallied an RBI single to left in the third to give Portland the two-run lead.
 
For a while, it looked like that’s all the run support Radke would need. But in the top of the fifth inning with a runner on second base and two outs, Cody Hough drilled a game-tying home run over the left field fence.
 
A batter earlier, Portland left fielder Kramer Scott nearly made a spectacular catch to end the inning. But Scott had the ball come lose after he smashed into the wall on a deep fly ball off the bat of Bart Steponovich.
 
Radke, though, would minimize the damage by striking out Joe Chavez after walking Eddie Young.
 
The tie was short-lived because an inning later Sowers belted his first home run of the season. With two outs and the bases empty, the right-fielder hit a line drive that just did clear the fence in left and give a 3-2 lead back to the Pilots.
 
Radke then struck out the side in the top of the seventh before giving way to his bullpen.
 
Portland added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning and reliever Colin Feldtman tossed a scoreless and hitless eighth and ninth to register his first career save. The junior-right hander fanned three.
 
Radke evens his record at 2-2 after allowing just four hits on the day.
 
Riverside starter Dylan Stuart (2-2) takes the loss after surrendering the four runs, all earned, on 10 hits and pair of walks in 7.0 innings. Reliever Zach Varela allowed a hit, while striking out two in the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
The Pilots (5-12) out-hit the Highlanders (9-8) 11-4 with Scott, Melby and Fraser each finishing with two hits.