EUGENE, Ore. – The Portland Pilots struggled on the mound as they fell to the No. 13 Oregon Ducks 10-1 in Eugene, Ore. The loss snaps Portland's three-game winning streak and drops them to 10-9 on the season.
It was a hard night for Portland's bullpen on Tuesday. The 10 runs allowed only came on seven hits, as the Pilots' pitching staff tallied nine walks and nine wild pitches. Oregon scored on four of those wild pitches, once off a passed ball and again off a walk. Jack Folkins takes the loss after allowing the go-ahead run early in the first. He pitched 1.2 innings with three runs allowed, one hit and one strikeout. Portland didn't have much more success at the plate, with only three hits and no RBIs on the day.
The Ducks scored first with a leadoff home run from Tanner Smith. The left fielder took a ball from Folkins and hit a moon shot over the right field wall to give Oregon a quick 1-0 lead.
Oregon only added on to that lead in the second inning thanks to a series of defensive mistakes from Portland. The Ducks scored four runs in the inning without recording a single hit. After replacing Folkins on the mound, freshman Nick Brink walked one batter with the bases loaded and threw a wild pitch that allowed two runners to score. Johnny Carter then replaced Brink and threw two wild pitches of his own, allowing two more Ducks to score. Carter struck out Nick Bellafronto to get Portland out of the inning, but the Pilots found themselves down 1-0.
The Pilots finally got on the board in the third inning. With the bases loaded, Chad Stevens hit a ground ball to second base that was quickly turned into a double play, but Henry Cheney was able to get home to make it 5-1. Oregon would soon take back that run, however, scoring off a passed ball in the bottom of the inning.
The Ducks added two more runs in the fourth. Aaron Zavala took advantage of a misplayed ball in left field and turned it into a triple, scoring a run in the process. Bellafronto brought Zavala in immediately after to make it 8-1 Ducks.
Oregon went on two score two more insurance runs to put the score at its final. Bellafronto had an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to left field and Tyler Ganus scored in the bottom of the eighth, once again off a wild pitch. The lead was too great and the Pilots fell 10-1.
Next up, the Pilots will be back at Joe Etzel Field where they will take on the Santa Clara Broncos for their second WCC series this season. Games will take place Friday through Sunday, starting with the opener on Mar. 26 at 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PortlandPilots.com
