The Portland Pilots took both games in their doubleheader against Utah Tech University to officially clinch the series. The Pilots are 3-0 for the third time in four years.
Below is the recaps for both games.
GAME 1 | Portland 6, Utah Tech 4
ST. GEORGE, Utah -- Nich Klemp collected four hits for the second game in a row to help lead the Portland Pilots past the Utah Tech Trailblazers 6-4 on Saturday.
Sophomore Nick Brink (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Portland (2-0). The right-hander went three innings, giving up one run on one hit, allowing one walk and striking out two. Sophomore Jacob Dobmeier also made an impact on the mound for the Pilots, throwing one shutout inning while allowing no hits, with no walks and one strikeout.
Klemp's four-hit day led the Pilots offensively. Jake Holcroft furnished a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Junior Evan Scavotto also helped out for Portland, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a home run and two RBI.
How it Happened
The Pilots got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Portland scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of sophomore Riley McCarthy.
The Trailblazers then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 3-1 until the Pilots expanded their advantage in the fifth. Portland scored twice on Scavotto's two-run homer, which brought the Pilots lead to 5-1.
Utah Tech narrowed Portland's lead to 5-4 before the Pilots stretched the advantage to 6-4 in the seventh inning. The Pilots scored a run on Holcroft's leadoff home run off sophomore Justin Woodbury. The score remained 6-4 for the rest of the game, as Portland held on for the win.
Game Notes
» Klemp compiled four hits on the day for Portland. It matches his career high, which he also reached on Friday.
» Portland's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed three runs across.
» Portland grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Pilots out-hit the Trailblazers at a 10-6 clip.
» Portland pitchers limited Utah Tech to just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Portland pitchers faced 35 Utah Tech hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out seven.
» Holcroft led the Pilots at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Utah Tech was led offensively by freshman Bryker Hurdsman, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
» Junior Trevor Meisner led the Trailblazers pitching staff, throwing one scoreless inning.
GAME 2 | Portland 21, Utah Tech 11
ST. GEORGE, Utah -- The Portland Pilots broke through after an 11-11 tie in the sixth inning to defeat the Utah Tech Trailblazers 21-11 Saturday. The Pilots officially clinched the series with the win.
In his Pilot debut, Kaden Segel (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Portland (3-0). The right-hander went two shutout innings, giving up two hits, no walks and striking out one.
Offensively, the Pilots were paced by Jake Holcroft, who went 3-for-6 on the day with a double, two home runs, a walk and three RBI's. It was the first multi-home run game of his career. Briley Knight compiled a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-6 with a home run, a walk and five RBI's. Nich Klemp also helped out for Portland, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding two walks and three RBI's.
How it Happened
Trailing 3-0, the Pilots first put runs on the board in the third inning. Portland's offense started clicking and put up six runs, including a two-run double off the bat of Jake Tsukada, an RBI single from Briley Knight, a score off a passed ball and a two-run double from junior Evan Scavotto.
The Trailblazers failed to push any runs across before the Pilots offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Portland hit two home runs, with Holcroft and Knight homering, in the inning on the way to pushing four runs across. It brought the score to 10-3 in favor of the Pilots.
Utah Tech narrowed Portland's lead to 10-5 before the Pilots stretched the advantage to 11-5 in the fifth inning. The Pilots added a run on Holcroft's two-out solo home run off Zach Thomas.
The Trailblazers then evened up the game at 11 before Portland came back to retake their advantage in the seventh inning. The Pilots sent in a run on junior Henry Muench's two-out solo homer off freshman Evan Vasiliou, bringing the score to 12-11 in favor of Portland.
The Pilots held Utah Tech without a run before expanding their lead to 21-11 in the ninth inning. The Portland offense piled up nine runs, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Jonas Salk in his Pilot debut and a two-run single from Klemp. The score remained 21-11 for the rest of the game, as the Pilots coasted to the win.
Game Notes
» The Pilots got two home runs off the bat of Holcroft. It was his first multi-home run game in his collegiate career.
» Portland got three-hit games from three different hitters.
» Brock Gillis struck out seven Trailblazers hitters.
» Portland got an outstanding power hitting day from Holcroft, who reached safely with three extra base hits.
» Knight drove in five runs for Portland. He's the second Pilot to post five RBI's in the game this year.
» Every Portland starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Portland pitching staff combined to strike out 13 Utah Tech hitters.
» Portland's highest scoring inning was the ninth, when it pushed nine runs across.
» Portland took the lead at 6-3 in the top half of the third and never lost that advantage.
» Seven Pilots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Portland hitters hit five dingers in the ballgame. They've hit 10 home runs across three games.
» The Pilots had a total of 21 hits. The Pilots out-hit the Trailblazers at a 21-12 clip.
» Portland went 8-for-15 (.533) with runners in scoring position.
» Portland pitchers faced 46 Utah Tech hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and six fly balls while striking out 13.
» The Pilots drew eight walks from Utah Tech pitching.
» Holcroft led the Pilots at the plate, going 3-for-6 with a double, two home runs and three RBI.
» This is the most runs the Pilots have ever scored in their first three games.
Up Next
The Pilots will play the Trailblazers in the series finale tomorrow at 11 a.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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