LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Portland Pilots as a team, as well as Nich Klemp individually, broke several records today as they defeated the LMU Lions 15-3 to advance to the semifinals of the 2023 WCC Baseball Tournament. The Pilots will play again tonight at 8:30 p.m. against either the Santa Clara Broncos or the Saint Mary's Gaels.
Nick Brink (6-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Portland (30-22). The right-hander went six innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on six hits, allowing six walks and striking out six. Ty Saunders also made an impact on the mound for the Pilots, throwing three innings, giving up one run on three hits, with one walk and two strikeouts in the save. The win also marks the seventh time the Pilots have reached 30 wins in a season and the first time they've ever done so in back-to-back seasons.
Klemp had four hits as well as three RBI's for the Pilots, breaking the program record for hits in a single season with 81 now on the year. Ben Patacsil put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and three RBI's. Christian Cooney also chipped in for Portland, putting together three hits in six trips to the plate while adding three RBI's. The Pilots also broke single season records for runs scored (382) in a year and total hits (579).
How it Happened
The Pilots got on the scoreboard first, starting in the third inning. Portland's offense started clicking and put up seven runs, with RBI hits from Klemp, Cooney, Briley Knight, Jake Tsukada and Jake Holcroft and another score off an error. The Pilots led 7-0 after three.
The Lions failed to push any runs across before the Pilots offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Klemp came across to score the lone run of the inning for Portland off a sac fly from Patacsil, which brought the Pilots' lead to 8-0.
Portland held LMU scoreless before expanding their lead to 14-0 the following inning. The Pilots bats heated up in the inning, scoring six runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Cooney and a two-run double from Patacsil. Tyler Howard had an RBI hit and the Pilots scored off a hit batter as well to reach 14 runs.
The Lions scored two before Portland added some insurance in the sixth. The Pilots scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Klemp, bringing the Portland advantage to 15-2. LMU put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Pilots still coasted to the 15-3 win.
Game Notes
» Klemp racked up four hits for the seventh time this season.
» With 81 hits on the year, Klemp set a school record for hits in a single season. He set the record for doubles earlier this year.
» Three different Pilots drove in three runs: Klemp, Patacsil and Cooney.
» Every Portland starter reached base safely in the win.
» Portland's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed seven runs across.
» The Pilots set a program record for runs scored in a season with 382.
» Brink put together six innings of two-run ball for the Pilots.
» Seven Pilots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Pilots had a total of 21 hits.
» Portland also set a record for hits in a single season, totaling 579.
» Portland went 10-for-22 (.455) with runners in scoring position.
» The Pilots got three hits in six at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Portland pitchers faced 41 Loyola Marymount hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Pilots drew six walks from Loyola Marymount pitching.
» This is the seventh time the Pilots have won at least 30 games in a season, and the first time they've done so in back-to-back seasons.
» This is the second year in a row the Pilots have advanced to the semifinals of the tournament.
» With the win, the Pilots play either the Santa Clara Broncos or the Saint Mary's Gaels later this evening at 8:30.
Up Next
The Pilots will take on either the Santa Clara Broncos or the Saint Mary's Gaels tonight at 8:30. Stay tuned to PortlandPilots.com.
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