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PORTLAND, Ore. --- With the score tied 1-1 in the top of the ninth inning, Oregon’s Scott Heineman belted a two-out, three-run home run to give the No. 10 Ducks a 4-1 come-from-behind victory over the Portland Pilots in a non-conference baseball game on Tuesday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Portland sophomore starter Kody Watts tossed 6.0 scoreless innings, but the Pilots were unable to hold onto the lead once he departed.
 
The Pilots drop to 13-23 with the loss, while Oregon improves to 28-8.
 
Heineman’s game-winning blast came after Portland reliever Jeremy Burright (2-3) had retired the first two Oregon batters to begin the top of the ninth inning. But both Ryon Healy and Marshall Tolman were able to draw two-out walks before Heineman hit a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center field.
 
Oregon’s All-American closer Jimmie Sherfy then worked the ninth for his 12th save of the year.
 
Watts was solid during his longest collegiate outing. The right-hander from Vancouver, Wash., kept the Ducks off balance, allowing just four hits, while also fanning six.
 
Portland scored the game’s first run of the game after Caleb Whalen led off the top of the fourth inning with a single to left. Brian Frattali then followed with a deep fly ball that landed just shy of the fence in left-center field, which allowed Whalen to race around to score on the double and give the Pilots a 1-0 lead.
 
The Pilots then had a chance to add some more runs, but reliever Jared Priestly was able to end the inning with a strikeout.
 
The score would remain 1-0 in Portland’s favor until the top of the seventh inning. With two outs and the bases empty, Healy drilled a pitch from Brandon Snyder over the wall in left for a game-tying solo home run.
 
Colin Feldtman also pitched for the Pilots, who used four pitchers on the day.
 
Oregon countered with seven pitchers with Garrett Cleavinger (2-0) earning the win. He worked a scoreless inning and a third and he recorded a pair of strikeouts.
 
The Ducks held a slim 8-7 advantage in hits, while Portland’s Jeff Melby had his career-long 15-game hitting streak come to an end.
 
The Pilots take the field again tomorrow to face their second top-10 opponent in as many days. The No. 5 Oregon State Beavers will be in town for a 3 p.m. game at Joe Etzel Field.