Box Score

PROVO, Utah --- After the Pilots had taken a one-run lead in the top of the eighth inning, the BYU Cougars responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame before holding on for a 7-6 win over Portland in a West Coast Conference series finale on Saturday afternoon at Larry H. Miller Field. The win gives BYU two wins out of three games against the Pilots, who drop to 13-22 overall on the year and to 5-7 in the WCC.
 
The Pilots scored three runs in the top of the first inning before the Cougars (19-15, 7-5 WCC) came storming back with two runs in the first and three more in the third to claim a 5-3 lead.
 
The Pilots were able to tie the score in the seventh when both Kramer Scott and Caleb Whalen crossed home plate on a throwing error by the BYU third baseman.
 
And then with the score knotted at 5-5 in the top of the eighth, Cody Lenahan trotted home with the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
 
But for the second straight game the Pilots were unable to hang on to the lead. With two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, Cody Shepherd came through with a clutch two-run double to hand the lead back to the Cougars.
 
BYU reliever Matt Milke then retired the Pilots in order in the top of the ninth to preserve the win. Milke (2-0), who was Brigham Young’s third pitcher on the day, worked 2.0 innings total, surrendering one run, one hit and one walk.
 
Portland’s J.R. Bunda (0-2) takes the loss after allowing both Cougar runs in the eighth. Starter Matt McCallister allowed five runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings and Brandon Snyder recorded the final out in relief of Bunda in the eighth.
 
During Portland’s three-run first, Scott drove in two runs with a triple to right field, his second of the season.
 
BYU out-hit the Pilots 9-7 and Portland left 11 runners stranded on base. Jeff Melby had a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.
 
The Pilots next return home to host a pair of ranked teams next week at Joe Etzel Field. The Oregon Ducks first visit for a 3 p.m. tilt on Tuesday, while Oregon State comes to The Bluff for a 3 p.m. game on Wednesday.