BELLEVUE, Wash. --- The Portland Pilots jumped out to an early three-run lead at Bannerwood Park, but the Seattle Redhawks tied it to force extra innings before claiming a 4-3 walk-off win with a run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Seattle's (15-9) Michael McCann provided the game-winning, RBI single in the 10th, which came after the Pilots (13-12) had retired the first two batters to begin the inning. Dalton Hurd and Griffin Andreychuk both kept the frame alive with back-to-back singles, and McCann came through with a base hit to right field that scored Hurd from second base.
It was the Pilots who led early after scoring a run in the top of the first inning and two more in the second. Seattle helped with three errors as none of the runs were earned. In the first, Brady Kerr singled before stealing second base. And then with two outs, the senior catcher trotted home, courtesy a SU fielding error.
In the second, both Kevin Wade and Kevin Farley reached base on an error, and Wade was able to score on the second miscue to give the Pilots a 2-0 lead. Dylan White then drove in Farley with a base hit down the right field line to make it a three-run game.
The Redhawks got one back in the bottom of the second and climbed within a run with another tally in the third. The run in the second came on consecutive doubles, while Sean Sutton was responsible for the run in the third with an RBI single.
Seattle then tied the game with another RBI double in the bottom of the fifth, this one coming off the bat of Max Modeste.
The Seattle pitchers did well to limit Portland's chances after falling in the early hole. Connor Moore (1-0) was the fourth Redhawk hurler, and he earns the win after pitching a perfect top of the 10th. Reliever Janson Junk was the most effective SU pitcher, allowing just one Pilot to reach base, while fanning six, in 4.1 scoreless innings.
Portland used five pitchers on the day with the loss going to Cameron Richman (1-1), who tossed the final 2.2 innings.
The Pilots next return home to host the Brigham Young Cougars for a three-game West Coast Conference series at Joe Etzel Field. The series begins on Thursday night, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. The two teams will also play at 6 p.m. on Friday before beginning Saturday's finale at 11 a.m.
