PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots had their seven-game win streak snapped with a 3-0 loss to the Saint Mary's Gaels in the opener of a three-game West Coast Conference baseball series Friday night at Joe Etzel Field.
Senior John Damozonio and junior Cam Staton combined to toss a shutout for the Gaels (13-11, 1-2 WCC). Damozonio (3-1) pitched 6.0 shutout innings and recorded nine strikeouts to pick up the win for the Gaels. He allowed just four hits and three walks while tossing 112 pitches. Staton finished the final three innings allowing just three baserunners while striking out three.
Junior Trey Newmann (2-1) pitched well for the Pilots but took the loss. He went six complete innings allowing just two runs on five hits and a walk. Sophomore Trey Swygart was also solid out of the bullpen in three innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits, with one walk and one strikeout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gaels struck first with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Brady Petit had an RBI groundout scoring Cody Kashimoto, who led off with a single. Diego Castellanos then beat out an infield single to plate Makoa Sniffen. Portland challenged the call, but the review went in favor of Saint Mary's and made it 2-0.
The Pilots threatened in the sixth inning by loading the bases after a double from Jonas Salk, a walk and hit by pitch. Damozonio got out of the jam with his ninth strikeout of the game before ending his night on the mound.
Saint Mary's added an unearned run in the seventh inning after Sniffen got aboard via error and then came around to score on a hit-and-run single from Brady Petit to make it 3-0.
Salk again started a Pilot threat in the bottom of the eighth with an opposite field single to lead off the inning against reliever Cam Staton. Cole Katayama-Stall followed with a one-out walk, but Staton induced a double play groundout to end the frame. It was a 1-2-3 ninth for the Pilots as Staton earned his first save of the season.
GAME NOTES
» Portland left 10 runners stranded on base compared to eight for the Gaels.
» Portland pitchers faced 38 Saint Mary's hitters in the game, allowing 18 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out four.
» The Pilots drew five walks from Saint Mary's pitching.
» Portland committed three errors and the Gaels did not have a miscue defensively.
» Salk led the Pilots at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double.
» Saint Mary's was led offensively by sophomore Brady Petit, who went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
UP NEXT
The three-game series between the Pilots and Gaels continues on Saturday at 3 p.m. and then concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
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