Box Score
KEIZER, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning and another in the eighth, but the No. 6 Oregon State Beavers would hold on for a 4-3 victory in a non-conference game played on Wednesday night at Volcanoes Stadium. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Pilots, who drop to 17-29 on the year.
Trailing 4-1 with only one hit through six innings, Portland’s bats came alive in the seventh. Cody Lenahan led off the frame with a double before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Then with two outs, Nick Armenta kept the inning alive by beating out an infield single to third base, which moved Lenahan to third.
Kramer Scott followed with a two-out single to right field that scored Lenahan and gave the Pilots runners on first and second and Portland’s best hitter Jeff Melby coming to the plate. But OSU’s Cole Brocker was able to get Melby to line out to left to end the inning.
In the eighth, Ben Grubb led off with a double down the left field line, his second hit of the game. He then moved over to third base on a ground out and easily scored on a wild pitch, pulling the Pilots within a run.
The Beavers (38-8) escaped further damage in the eighth and would send their closer Scott Schultz to the mound in the bottom of the ninth. Armenta did keep Portland’s hopes alive with a two-out single in the ninth, but Schultz would seal the win by getting Scott to fly out to center field.
Schultz, who was one of six Oregon State pitchers, earns his ninth save of the year. Tony Bryant (1-0) takes the win after tossing 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of starter Dan Child.
The loss goes to Jeremy Burright (2-4), who was charged with three runs in just two-thirds of an inning of relief. Seven UP pitchers were used.
The Pilots scored first when they were able to load the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the second. Grubb, who led off the inning with a single, trotted home on a sacrifice fly by Beau Fraser to give the Pilots an early 1-0 advantage.
But the lead was short-lived as the Beavers responded with a run of their own in the top of the third inning. Michael Conforto evened the score with an RBI single up the middle.
The score remained 1-1 until the Beavers plated three in the bottom of the fifth. Danny Hayes knocked in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly before Jake Rodriguez gave the Beavers a little breathing room with a two-run single.
OSU out-hit the Pilots 10-6.
The Pilots next head to San Diego, Calif., for their final West Coast Conference road series of the season against the San Diego Toreros. Friday’s opener is set for 6 p.m. at Fowler Ballpark.
