COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The Portland Pilots scored nine runs over the last three innings, including seven in the ninth, to upset the No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies. It is the highest ranked opponent that the Pilots have ever defeated.
Jack Folkins (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Portland (4-1). The right-hander went three shutout innings without giving up a hit, two walks and five strikeouts. Joey Gartrell started the ballgame and went 4.1 innings, surrendering two runs, one earned, on three hits, walking three and striking out five.
Nich Klemp led the way offensively for the Pilots, going 2-for-5 in the ballgame with a double and three RBI's. Junior Jake Holcroft put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 with three walks and an RBI. Sophomore Spencer Scott also contributed, going 2-for-4 for Portland with a walk and an RBI.
How it Happened
Trailing 2-0, the Pilots first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Christian Cooney came across to score the lone run of the inning off a sacrifice fly for Portland and get them on the board.
The Pilots kept the Aggies off the board before taking the lead in the seventh. Portland pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Klemp that scored Scott and Holcroft, which brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Pilots.
Portland kept Texas A&M without a run before building their lead to 10-2 in the ninth inning. The Pilots bats heated up in the inning, scoring seven runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Cooney and a two-run single from senior Briley Knight. Portland also scored off two walks and a single from Klemp.
Texas A&M put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Portland still coasted to the 10-3 win.
Game Notes
» Gartrell struck out five Aggies hitters and Folkins fanned five for the Pilots.
» Portland's highest scoring inning was the ninth, when it pushed seven runs across.
» The Pilots out-hit the Aggies at a 9-4 clip.
» Klemp recorded multiple hits for the fifth time this season. He has 15 hits on the year and is batting .682 at the plate.
» Scott was the only other batter to record multiple hits for Portland, going 2-for-4. It's the first mutli-hit game of the season for Scott.
» Portland went 4-for-6 (.667) with runners in scoring position.Portland pitchers limited Texas A&M to just 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» Portland pitchers faced 39 Texas A&M hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out 11.
» The Pilots drew eight walks from Texas A&M pitching.
» Texas A&M was led offensively by junior Hunter Haas, who went 2-for-4 with a double.
» The Aggies are the highest-ranked opponent the Pilots have defeated in program history. It is also Portland's first ever win over an SEC school.
» This is the fourth time in five years the Pilots have started 4-1.
Up Next
The Pilots and Aggies play again tomorrow at 12 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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