Box Score

PROVO, Utah --- After spotting Portland an early-four run lead, the BYU Cougars scored 10 straight runs en route to an 11-7 win over the Pilots in a West Coast Conference baseball game played on Friday night at Larry H. Miller Field. The Pilots (13-21, 5-6 WCC) won the first game of the series yesterday to set up the rubber match tomorrow at 12 p.m.
 
The loss spoils a four-hit night for Portland’s Nick Armenta, while Jeff Melby’s base hit in the top of the ninth inning ran his career-best hitting streak to 14 games. Cody Lenahan had three RBI’s.
 
The night looked good early for the Pilots, who scored the game’s first two runs with two outs in the top of the second inning. After Kramer Scott had singled and Ben Grubb drew a walk, Brian Frattali roped a two-run double into the gap in left-center field.
 
An inning later, it was Lenahan’s turn to drive in a pair, this time with a single up the middle that scored Armenta and Melby to give the Pilots a 4-0 lead.
 
But BYU (18-15, 6-5 WCC) responded with a six-run fourth inning to surge ahead and chase Portland starter Kurt Yinger. Jaycob Brugman had the big hit of the inning when he belted a three-run home run over the wall in right field.
 
Yinger (2-3) would finish the inning, but the damage had been done. His final line included an uncharacteristic seven runs on eight hits and three walks in 4.0 innings.
 
The Cougars then scored two more runs in the fifth and another two in the sixth to make it a 10-4 ballgame.
 
Grubb had an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning, Lenahan drove in another run on a single in the ninth and Caleb Whalen capped the scoring for the Pilots when he followed Lenahan with an RBI on a fielder’s choice.
 
Jarrett Jarvis was responsible for BYU’s 11th run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth.
 
BYU starter Desmond Poulson remains perfect on the season, improving to 5-0 with the win. He struck out six in 7.0 innings, while allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk. A pair of relievers followed Poulson.
 
Portland used four pitchers out of the bullpen, with freshman Zach Torson working a perfect seventh.
 
The Cougars out-hit the Pilots 14-11 and both teams committed three errors.
 
The game was broadcast live nationally on BYUtv.