PORTLAND PILOTS (10-34-1, 5-16 WCC)
WEEK 13 GAME NOTES
 
at BYU COUGARS (29-15, 17-4 WCC)
Date: Thurs-Sat, May 11-13, 2017
Location: Provo, Utah
Ballpark: Miller Park (2,200)
TV: BYUtv
Online Video: TheW.tv
Stats: BYUCougars.com
Series: BYU leads 21-11
2016: BYU 8-2, BYU 4-1, BYU 5-3 (March 31 - April 2 at Portland)
 
PROBABLE STARTERS (W-L, ERA)
Thursday • May 11 • 5 PM
POR: LHP Jordan Horak (2-7, 4.89)
BYU: RHP Maverik Buffo (6-5, 4.67)
 
Friday • May 12 • 5 PM
POR: LHP Grady Miller (1-7, 4.74)
BYU: RHP Brady Corless (5-0, 5.05)
 
Saturday • May 13 • 12 PM
POR: RHP Kevin Baker (3-5, 3.09)
BYU: LHP Hayden Rogers (6-1, 3.39)
 
THIS WEEK IN PILOTS BASEBALL
• The Pilots return to the West Coast Conference with a road trip to Provo, Utah, for a three-game series with the first-place Brigham Young Cougars.
• The Pilots and Cougars open the set on Thursday at 5 p.m. (Pacific) at Miller Park; first pitch on Friday is also scheduled for 5 p.m., and Saturday's finale will begin at 12 p.m.
• All three games will be shown live on both BYUtv and TheW.tv.
 
LAST WEEK IN PILOTS BASEBALL
• Dutton Elske's two-run homer on Tuesday helped give the Pilots a three-run lead over the Oregon Ducks at Joe Etzel Field before Portland held on for a 3-2 lead.
• Elske's second home run of the year came in the bottom of the second inning, and Matt Kelly provided some insurance with an RBI double in the bottom of the six to help push the Portland lead to 3-0.
• Starter Corbin Powers was solid for 5.0 scoreless innings to record his first win of the year; he scattered five hits, struck out five, and didn't issue a walk.
• Marty Luckenbach tossed the final 3.0 innings to secure his sixth save of the year.
• Previously, the Pacific Tigers took two of three games from the Pilots in Stockton, Calif.; Portland won the opener 10-7 on Friday, April 28, before the Tigers recovered to take the next two by scores of 3-1 and 2-0.
• Beau Brundage was 3-for-6 with two RBI's during the series opening win, while Michael Forgione scored three times.
• Freshman starter Grady Miller fanned 10 during Saturday's loss, and sophomore starter Kevin Baker collected a career-high 13 K's in 8.0 innings on Sunday.
 
ABOUT THE PILOTS
• Tuesday's save against the Ducks is senior reliever Marty Luckenbach's sixth this season, which ties him for the ninth most saves in a single season in program history.
• Sophomore right-hander Kevin Baker has reached double digits in strikeouts three times this season, including fanning a career-high 13 his last time out at Pacific (April 30); the 13 K's are tied for the third most in a game ever for the Pilots.
• Baker struck out 11 in 6.1 innings against Santa Clara (April 2), and he struck out 11 more in 10.0 scoreless innings vs. Pepperdine on April 9.
• He ranks 23rd nationally and is second in the WCC in K's per 9.0 innings (11.73); he also has the Pilots' lone complete game this season, and his 3.09 ERA ranks sixth in the conference; he also ranks fifth on Portland's single season charts for K's per 9.0 innings.
• Freshman starter Grady Miller has a two games this season with 10 K's or more, with the lefty fanning 10 during his most recent outing at Pacific (April 29); he previously struck out a career-best 12 in 7.0 innings during a win over Northwestern (March 10).
• The 16-inning game against Pepperdine at Joe Etzel Field on April 9 was the longest game for the Pilots since also playing a 16-inning contest in 2008 vs. Northern Illinois.
• Portland's 10-10 tie at Seattle U on April 5 was the first tie for the Pilots since 2003.
• The capacity crowd of 1,300 to watch the Pilots and No. 1 Oregon State on April 4 was the largest in Joe Etzel Field history; the previous high was 1,092, which also came against Oregon State last season.
• Sophomore Matt Kelly and redshirt-freshman Beau Brundage are leading the Pilots offensively, batting .288 and .286, respectively; Kelly is batting .308 during league contests, and Brundage is riding a career-high nine game hitting streak.
• Sophomore Cody Hawken has team highs of five home runs and 23 RBI's; his brother Jake is a junior pitcher for the Pilots.
• Portland's game against Seattle on March 22 was the 600th in the coaching career of skipper Geoff Loomis; the UP alum and Athletics Hall of Fame member is in his second season at the helm of the Pilots after 13 seasons as head coach at Pacific Lutheran, where he led the Lutes to 11 winning seasons and two NCAA Regional appearances.
• Loomis (1990-92) still holds the UP program career record for batting average (.376) and he earned Pacific-10 North Division Player of the Year honors in 1992.
• The Pilots opened the season with 11 straight road games before finally playing at Joe Etzel Field on March 10; 15 of Portland's first 20 games are on the road.
• The new-look Pilots entered the season with 14 returning letterwinners, only two position starters and three starting pitchers.
• Portland welcomed 20 new players to the program this year, which includes 12 freshmen, two redshirt-freshmen and six JC transfers.
 
ABOUT THE COUGARS
• BYU sits in first place of the WCC ranks among the top 20 national in multiple offensive categories, including runs per game (8.2, 7), batting average (.320, 8th), slugging percentage (.498, 8th), hits (522, 19) and home runs (57).
• Brock Hale leads the potent offense with a team-high .372 average, Keaton Kringlen has a league-best 48 RBI's, and Bronson Larsen and Colton Shaver both lead the team with 11 home runs; BYU's staff ERA is 4.31, and opponents are batting .286.
• Mike Littlewood is in his fifth year as head coach.