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Schedule

Will Labonte on the mound for the Pilots throwing a pitch.
3
Winner Niagara NU 1-8, 0-0 MAAC
1
Portland PORT 4-6, 0-0 WCC
Winner
Niagara NU
1-8, 0-0 MAAC
3
Final
1
Portland PORT
4-6, 0-0 WCC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Niagara NU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 6 1
Portland PORT 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1

W: Damiani, Andrew (1-1) L: Keljo, Grady (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Pilots Drop Series Finale 3-1 Against Niagara

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Pilots dropped the series finale against the Niagara Purple Eagles 3-1. The Pilots still clinched the series, but drop to 4-6 on the year.

Grady Keljo took the loss with his runner being the one who scored. Will Labonte earned the start, going five innings with no runs and four hits allowed, along with two strikeouts. He's now gone the first 14.2 innings of his career without allowing a run. Labonte is the first Pilot freshman to go his first three outings without allowing a run since Zach Johnson in 2023 and the first Pilot to go their first 14 innings pitched without allowing a run in at least the 2000s.

Alex Via was also solid on the mound, going three innings with just one run and one hit allowed and four strikeouts. Trey Newmann pitched an inning, allowing two runs with only one counting against him. The bats were quiet for Portland, with just one run on two hits. Jonas Salk and Gage Bruce were the two Pilots to record hits, with Bruce scoring Salk on an RBI hit. 

How it Happened

The lone run for Portland came in the second inning, when Bruce drove home Salk with an RBI single. The Purple Eagles tied things up in the eighth after taking advantage of a Pilot error. The ninth inning saw Noah Konings hit a two-run homer to deliver the win for the Purple Eagles 3-1.

Game Notes
  • Bruce and Salk both went 1-for-3 on the day, with Bruce driving in an RBI and Salk scoring the run.
  • Labonte recorded his third straight outing without allowing a run, going four innings with just four hits conceded and two strikeouts. 
  • Labonte is the only Pilot true freshman to allow no runs in his first three outings since 2023 and the only Pilot true freshman in the 2000s to go his first 14 innings pitched without allowing a run.
  • Via went a season-high three innings, punching out four batters and allowing just one unearned run and one hit.
  • The Pilots still win the series with their two previous wins.
Up Next

The Pilots remain home for a four-game series against the Holy Cross Crusaders. The series begins on Thursday, March 5 and runs through Sunday, March 10. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
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