PORTLAND, Ore. --- With two outs and the score tied in the bottom of the 10th inning, Portland senior Matt Kelly sent a base hit down the left field line to score freshman Nick Merone from second base and hand the Pilots a thrilling, 2-1 walk-off win over the Pepperdine Waves in a West Coast Conference baseball game played on Sunday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Kelly was playing in his final game at Portland's home ballpark, which is set to undergo renovations during the off-season.
 
The rally in the 10th was sparked after Merone beat out the throw from the Pepperdine shortstop to lead off the frame with an infield single. Jace McKinney, another senior, then moved Merone to second base with a sacrifice bunt. After the Waves recorded the second out of the inning, Kelly stepped up to the plate, and on a 2-1 pitch, he snuck a hard-hit ball just inside third base for the game-winner.
 
Portland (24-25, 6-18 WCC) senior starter Chris Clements provided another gem for the Pilots, going 9.0 solid innings. He yielded only three hits, he walked just one, and he fanned nine.
 
Closer Connor Knutson (3-3) pitched the top of the 10th to earn the win. He struck out one during a scoreless inning of relief.
 
Pepperdine (23-22, 13-11 WCC) starter Trevor Kniskern nearly matched Clements pitch-for-pitch as he tossed 7.0 innings. He allowed one run on six hits and a walk, and he K'd three. Reliever Will Jensen (0-1) is saddled with the loss after allowing the run in the 10th.
 
The Waves could only produce three hits on the day, but they did score the first run in the top of the fourth. Duncan McKinnon collected the RBI when his single to center field plated Quincy McAfee.
 
The game would remain 1-0 until the Pilots registered the tying run in the bottom of the seventh. Senior Cody Hawken reached base to open the inning when Pepperdine couldn't handle his line drive to center field, and freshman Tracye Tammaro advanced him to second base with a sac bunt. Junior Blake Porter then sent a base hit to center, and Hawken raced all the way home to even the score 1-1.
 
The Pilots have four games remaining in 2019, and all four are on the road. Tuesday brings a trip to Corvallis for a 5:35 game with the Oregon State Beavers at Goss Stadium.
 
Sunday was senior day for the Pilots, and Portland honored Kelly, McKinney, Clements, Hawken, Kevin Baker, Daniel Lopez, Cameron Richman, and Connor White with a pre-game ceremony.