SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Portland Pilots (26-17, 13-8 WCC) scored three runs in the eighth inning to earn a 4-3 win over the Santa Clara Broncos (23-22, 11-13 WCC) and complete the sweep. It is the second WCC sweep in a row for the Pilots and the sixth conference win in a row.
At 26 wins, the Pilots officially boast their best record since Geoff Loomis took over as coach of the Pilots in the 2016 season. It is also the most wins for the Pilots since the 2012 season, when they went 27-25.
Peter Allegro got Portland the win coming in to relieve starter Eli Morse in the seventh inning. He went 2.1 innings with no runs and one hit allowed and a strikeout. Morse went 6.2 innings with seven hits and three runs allowed and four strikeouts.
The Pilots had four runs off nine hits in the finale, with two batters – Sam Brown and Jake Holcroft – going 2-for-4 each. Briley Knight went 1-for-3 with a home run, and Trace Tammaro and Sam Brown each had RBI hits as well.
Santa Clara got the scoring started in the first inning. In the final frame of the first, Cole Brigman hit an RBI double to left field to bring in a run and make it 1-0 Broncos early.
Portland didn't have to wait too long to match the score. In the top of the third with no outs, Knight stepped to the plate and hit a moon shot over the wall in left field, tying things back up at one. Unfortunately for the Pilots, the Broncos got the lead right back off a sac fly in the bottom of the inning. Santa Clara led 2-1.
The Broncos added to that lead in the fifth inning. With no runners on and two outs, Eamonn Lance hit a bomb of his own over the left field wall to add to the Broncos' lead. They led 3-1 over halfway through this one.
A big eighth inning for Portland flipped this game on its head. The Pilots scored three runs to take a one-run lead over the Broncos. Tammaro hit a single that gave the Pilots one run, then Klemp hit a two-run single to officially give Portland the lead at 4-3. Allegro and company held on to give Portland the win.
The Pilots have a busy week ahead of them, with five games in six days starting on Tuesday. That day, they'll travel to Corvallis, Ore. to take on the No. 2 Oregon State Beavers for the final time this year. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m., with live stats and video available at PortlandPilots.com.
