Box Score   I  Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. --- After the Pilots had taken an early 2-1 lead, the Oregon Ducks tied the score with a run in the fifth inning and claimed the lead in the sixth before holding on for a 3-2 win over Portland in a non-conference baseball game played on Wednesday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots (10-35) did get the potential game-tying runner on base during the eighth and ninth innings, but the Ducks (35-14) would prevail.
 
The Ducks scored the game's first run when Tyler Baumgartner drilled a one-out, solo home run over the right field fence in the top of the first inning.
 
The Pilots then answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, courtesy an Oregon error and some aggressive base running. With runners on the corners and two outs, Oregon starting pitcher Porter Clayton tried to pick off Ryan Barr at first base. But the throw was off the mark and ended up in the UO bullpen, which easily allowed Kevin Wade to score from third.
 
Barr also scored all the way from first base to give Portland a slim one-run lead.
 
The lead would stand all the way until the fifth when Shaun Chase scored the tying run when he trotted home on a wild pitch.
 
An inning later, the Ducks jumped ahead, this time via a sacrifice fly off the bat of Baumgartner. And then after an intentional walk loaded the bases for the Ducks with still only one out, Kurt Yinger came through with a pair of clutch strikeouts to end the inning and keep the Pilots within reach.
 
But the Pilots were unable to capitalize after getting a pair of hits in the eighth or in the ninth after Wade drew a two-out walk.
 
Clayton (1-1) earns the win after yielding just three hits in 6.0 innings. He k'd just two and walked four. Reliever Trent Paddon picked up his first save of the year by holding the Pilots scoreless on two hits during the final 3.0 innings.
 
Four Portland pitchers combined to record 13 strikeouts on the afternoon. Yinger (0-6) was affective, but is saddled with the loss. He tossed 4.1 innings of relief, fanning five and scattering five hits. Starter Travis Radke lasted three innings as he works his way back from an injury, and the lefty struck out six.
 
Carl Snaring and J.R. Bunda worked the final 1.2 innings, holding the Duck offense off the board.
 
The Ducks out-hit the Pilots 9-5 and Oregon committed the game's only error. Wade had two hits for Portland.
 
 The Pilots next remain at home this weekend when the welcome the Pacific Tigers to Joe Etzel Field for a three-game West Coast Conference series. Friday's opener is set for 3 p.m. and first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.