SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Portland Pilots (6-1) took their first loss of the season on Sunday, with the San Jose State Spartans (5-3) avoiding the sweep with a 4-3 win in the series finale. At 6-1, the Pilots still boast their best record through seven games since 2011.
Caleb Franzen took the loss after allowing four runs in five innings pitched. He did, however, strike out eight with only one walk. The loss is the first of the year for Franzen. Jonathan Clark gets the win for the Spartans.
Evan Scavotto was the only Pilot to earn multiple hits on the day, going 2-for-4. Jake Tsukada and Tony Boetto were the only other Pilots to record a hit.
For the first time all series, the Spartans opened the scoring with a run in the first inning. Robert Hamchuk went yard in his first at bat, hitting a solo home run in the leadoff spot that immediately put the Pilots in a 1-0 hole. Nathan Cadena followed that up the next inning with an RBI single to right field that put San Jose State up 2-0.
Portland responded in the fourth inning. The Pilots loaded the bases and earned two runs off of walks. They followed that up the next inning with another run off a walk. All of the Pilots' runs in this game came off of either a walk or a hit by pitch.
The scores off walks were enough to put the Pilots up one, but that lead didn't last. For the third time this series, Hunter Dorraugh stepped to the plate and hit a two-run bomb for the left field wall in the fifth inning. The homer made it 4-3 Spartans.
The Pilots tried to close the gap, but couldn't keep the offensive momentum they had built in the past two games rolling into this one. They went hitless in the final four innings and the Spartans avoided the sweep with a 4-3 win.
The road stretch continues for the Pilots as they head to San Luis Obispo for a one-off game against the Cal Poly Mustangs. First pitch for the game is set for 6 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for links to live stats and video.
