Pilots Unable to Overcome Early Deficit against Redhawks
Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Seattle Redhawks scored five runs in the first three innings, adding two in the later innings to hold off the Portland Pilots Friday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Senior Ben Grubb launched a solo home run to dead center field for the Pilots, but the Redhawks came out ahead 8-4 on a beautiful, sunny day on The Bluff.
Portland falls to 3-11 on the season, while Seattle U evens the season series at one, improving to 4-10 in the process.
The Redhawks pushed across a run in the top of the first inning against sophomore Travis Radke (1-2) courtesy of an infield single and a few seeing-eye ground balls.
Seattle U’s bats were just warming up, however, as the first four batters reached base in the top of the second, highlighted by a three-run home run by former Pilot Ben Ruff. Ruff appeared in five games for the Pilots as a freshman in 2010.
Portland had responded in the bottom of the first by loading the bases for senior Beau Fraser, whose sacrifice fly scored senior Brian Frattali from third base. Andrew Olson (1-2) would settle down after the first, retiring the next 11 batters he faced as Seattle expanded the lead in the third.
With the Redhawks on top 5-1 after three innings, Portland called on senior Matt McCallister out of the bullpen with McCallister tossing four impressive innings. The righty fanned five and allowed just three hits in his 4.0 innings of work.
McCallister departed after the seventh inning shortly after Grubb’s solo home run had brought Portland within two. Grubb, who missed most of last season, drilled the first pitch he saw from Olson over the wall in center field for the Pilots first home run of the season.
The Redhawks would tack on a run in each of the 8th and 9th innings to give extra cushion for Will Dennis. Dennis relieved Olson in the seventh inning and pitched the final 2.2 frames to pick up his first save of the year.
Portland turns to sophomore Kurt Yinger (0-1, 3.48 ERA) against Seattle’s Ted Hammond (0-0, 2.55). The righties square off at Joe Etzel Field tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
