PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots put two runners on in the ninth, but could not drive in any runs late against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, losing 7-5 in the series opener.
Morgan Codron (2-1) took the loss in the start for Portland (21-28, 12-10 WCC), allowing six runs in four innings with four strikeouts.
The Pilots had five runs on six hits, with Cody Nitowitz going 2-for-3 with a double as the lone hitter with multiple base knocks. Jonas Salk reached base three times and went 1-for-2 overall with a three-run homer. Trey Swygart hit his sixth homer of the year as well in a 1-for-3 effort.
How it Happened
Gonzaga opened the scoring with three runs in the first. But the Pilots responded back, bringing in two runs off a walk and a hit by pitch to make it just 3-2 Zags.
The Zags added three more runs in the fourth, scoring on a two-run homer courtesy of Max Coupe and again off a balk to make it 6-2. The Pilots responded by mashing two home runs in the fifth, with Trey Swygart hitting his sixth of the season with a solo bomb and Jonas Salk sending two home with a moonshot, his 11th of the season. That made it 6-5 Gonzaga.
The Zags added one more run in the ninth, making it 7-5 with one frame to go. The Pilots got a runner on, but could not bringing anyone home, losing 7-5 in the opener.
Game Notes
» Portland's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed three runs across.
» Portland pitchers limited Gonzaga to just 2-for-14 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Portland pitchers faced 44 Gonzaga hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out six.
» The Pilots drew four walks from Gonzaga pitching.
» Salk led the Pilots at the plate, going 1 for 2 with a home run and three RBIs. Salk is the second Pilot to 11 home runs this year and is the third Pilot to hit at least 11 home runs in a year since 2008.
» Swygart's home run was his sixth of the year.
» The Pilots have now hit 53 home runs on the year, the second most in a single season trailing just last year's total of 55.
Up Next
The Pilots and Bulldogs will face off again tomorrow at 3 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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