PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Chad Stevens and Cody Hawken both collected three RBI's, and Connor Knutson was masterful out of the bullpen as the Pilots overcame the Santa Clara Broncos 13-9 in the West Coast Conference series finale played at a sun-splashed Joe Etzel Field on Sunday afternoon. The Pilots won two of three over the Broncos during the weekend to claim the series.
The Pilots (23-21, 5-16 WCC) took advantage of a handful of walks to jump out to an early lead on Sunday. With three runs already in during the bottom of the second inning, Stevens provided a two-run double to push the Portland advantage to 5-0.
The Broncos (10-31, 3-15 WCC) got three runs back in the top of the third, but the Pilots scored five more in the home half of the frame. Two walks with the bases loaded forced in the first two runs before Hawken smashed a double to deep center field. His hard-hit, line drive bounced off the wall and scored three more runs to make it a 10-3 game.
Santa Clara tried to hang around with a three-spot in the top of the fourth, with two of those runs coming home on a double by Tony Boetto.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Pilots stretched their lead to 12-6. Nick Merone walked, Tracye Tammaro followed with a double to the right field corner, and Dutton Elske recorded an RBI with a single to left. A few batters later Tammaro scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Stevens, and the Pilots had a six-run cushion.
The Broncos chipped away at the deficit from there, scoring a run in the top of the fifth and two more in the sixth inning, but Knutson took over on the mound in the sixth inning and shut Santa Clara down. Portland's closer, who was recently named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award's Midseason Watch List, worked 4.0 scoreless innings.
Knutson allowed only one batter to reach base on a walk, and he struck out six. He was the last of five pitchers used on the day by the Pilots, and the win went to Peter Allegro (3-0). Knutson notches his 10th save of the year, which is tied for the third most in a season in Portland program history.
Stevens scored a run for the Pilots in the seventh when he singled, moved to second on a balk, headed to third when Matt Kelly lined out, and trotted home on a wild pitch.
The Broncos sent eight pitchers to the mound, with the loss going to reliever Matthew McGarry (0-2).
The Pilots next take the week off to focus on final exams and graduation before returning to the diamond Monday, May 7 at Oregon. First pitch for the Pilots and Ducks in Eugene is set for 6 p.m. at PK Park.
