PORTLAND, Ore. – The No. 15 Oregon Ducks rushed out to a big lead early and never looked back as the Portland Pilots dropped their final match against the Ducks this season 18-1. The loss drops Portland to .500 on the year at 16-16.
The Pilots' pitching staff struggled to slow down the bats of Oregon, allowing 18 runs off 21 hits. Those totals from the Ducks are the most Portland has allowed this season in both categories. The Pilots cycled through six pitchers on the day, with Nick Nygard taking the loss in his first start this year after allowing three runs and five hits in two innings.
Portland cobbled together nine hits but only drove in one run. The Pilots had 11 different batters register an at bat today, with Sam Brown and Hunter Montgomery being the only Pilots to earn multiple hits. Brown was 2-for-3 on the day with two singles while Montgomery was 2-for-4 with the only RBI for the Pilots.
Oregon got to work early in this one, scoring 12 runs in the first three innings. The Ducks got it started with one run in the top of the first. With a runner on second, Kenyon Yovan hit a line drive to center field that brought home Tanner Smith to make it 1-0 Oregon.
The Ducks would score again in the similar fashion in the top of the second, this time with Josh Kasevich bringing home Gabe Matthews with a double to center field. The Ducks would add one more run off the sac from Boettcher to make it 3-0 Ducks.
Things quickly got out of hand by the third inning. Oregon scored nine runs in the top of the inning to expand their lead to 12-0. They amassed seven hits during the inning, five of those leading to scores for the Ducks. Oregon also scored on a walk and a sac fly to get their lead to 12.
Oregon did not score in the fourth but put up four more runs in the fifth inning. Matthews hit an RBI single to bring in the first run while Kasevich bombed a three-run shot over the left field wall to make it 16-0 Oregon.
Portland added one run in the sixth inning off an RBI single from Montgomery to avoid the shutout, but it didn't matter much. The Ducks added two more runs in the final inning to settle the score at its final of 18-1.
The Pilots will be back at Joe Etzel Field on Friday, Apr. 16 for the first of three games in their WCC series against the Loyola Marymount Lions. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. with live stats and video available at PortlandPilots.com.
