STOCKTON, Calif. – The Portland Pilots (31-22) fell in a hole early and couldn't climb out as the San Diego Toreros (34-18) routed them 22-8 in Portland's first ever game in the WCC Tournament.
Brett Gillis took the loss after giving up nine runs in the first three innings. He had nine runs and seven hits counted against him officially in 2.1 innings with four strikeouts. Ryan Rembisz, KJ Ruffo and Liam Hatakenaka also each made appearances.
The Pilots had eight runs off 14 hits on the day. Evan Scavotto and Jake Tsukdada shined, with Scavotto going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI and Tsukada batting 2-for-4 with three RBI's. Jake Holcroft was also 3-for-4 while Christian Cooney went 2-for-4.
The Toreros got the scoring started in the first inning. San Diego put two runners in scoring position and Kevin Sim delivered, hitting a deep sacrifice fly to center field that brought in a run to make it 1-0.
The second inning was where the Toreros did most of their damage. They scored six runs in the top of the second. The first run came off an RBI single from Camden Vasquez. Cody Jefferis brought in another run off a sacrifice fly. Two runs came off a wild pitch, putting them up 5-0 with two outs in the second. WCC Player of the Year Caleb Ricketts put that lead at seven with a two-run homer over right field.
San Diego added three more runs in the next two innings off a pair of doubles before the Pilots finally responded. With Scavotto on second, Tsukada lined a single up the middle, giving the left fielder just enough time to get home for Portland's first run.
USD responded with four runs in the fifth. Sim hit a single to right field and Rickets hit another sacrifice fly for the first two run. Then R.J. Teijeiro hit a two-run homer to put the Toreros up 14-1.
Just when things looked bleak for Portland, they put together some solid scoring innings, with a combined seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings. They started with three runs in the fifth scoring once off a wild pitch and then two more runs off two RBI singles, one from Scavotto and another from Tsukada. The Pilots still trailed big, but runs were getting on the board.
The sixth inning saw even more success for the Pilots. Sam Brown got things started with an RBI single to right field. Tsukada was walked to bring in one run right before Ben Patacsil hit an RBI double to make it just 14-8 Toreros.
San Diego rebuilt that lead in the seventh. Vasquez hit another RBI single down the left field line, Dustin Allen hit an RBI double to left field, Liam Hatakenaka walked in two runs and hit Ricketts with a pitch and Teijeiro hit an RBI single to put the score at 21-8 Toreros. San Diego added one more run in the eighth to put the score at its final.
With the loss, the Pilots will now play the No. 5 seed Loyola Marymount Lions in Game 5 of the WCC Tournament. The two teams will play tomorrow at 12 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video.
