Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots defeated the Utah Valley Wolverines 7-2 before dropping the second game of the double header 6-5 in 11 innings in non-conference baseball on Saturday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. Portland won the series opener 4-2 on Friday and begins the season at 2-1.
The first game featured a 10 Portland hits and a solid performance on the mound by sophomore left-hander Scott Burris (1-0). During his first collegiate start, Burris allowed just three hits and one unearned run in 7.0 innings of work. He struck out four and walked three.
The Pilots took control of the game early with three first-inning runs. Sophomore Riley Henricks knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly in foul territory down the right field line. Then with one out and sophomore Craig Smith on second base, senior Bryant Kraus tagged UVU (1-2) starter Zach Bennett for a two-run home run deep over the left-field fence.
After the Wolverines scored an unearned run courtesy a pass ball in the top of the second, the Pilots added another run in the bottom of the inning to chase Bennett. Senior Cort Carpenter greeted Bennett with a towering, lead-off home run to right field. Bennett then surrendered a single to freshman Kramer Scott before getting pulled.
Bennett was charged with four runs on five hits and a walk in 1.0 inning. He struck out one.
Reliever Ko Mickolio then held UP scoreless for three innings before getting touched for a three-spot in the bottom of the fifth. With the Pilots leading 4-1, Henricks led off the Pilot half of the inning with an opposite field home to right. It was the first hit and homer of the season for Henricks, who led Portland in most offensive categories last season.
The Pilots would find the plate two more times in the fifth to take a commanding 7-1 lead. After Kraus was hit by a pitch, Chase Powell slapped an RBI double to right field. Moments later, an UVU error allowed Tyler Thomson to score from third base.
The Wolverines added a run in the ninth off of UP reliever Zach Varce. Varce was otherwise solid in two innings of work.
UVU tallied six hits and committed the game’s only three errors.
The second game began much like the first two of the series, with the Pilots scoring multiple runs during the first inning. Kraus came through once again with a base loaded double to left field. The three-run double gave Portland the early 3-0 advantage.
The score would remain 3-0 until the Wolverines scored twice in the top of the fifth inning off of UP starter Matthew Lange. Riley White brought home one run with a triple, while the other came on a ground out. Only one run was earned due to a Portland error.
The Pilots responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. With Scott on second, junior Rocky Gale picked up the RBI with a single to center field. Kris Kauppila then greeted new pitcher Riley Gordon with an RBI single to right field that made it 5-2.
Portland was then hurt by some costly errors in the top of the sixth inning. The Wolverines capitalized with three runs, all unearned. Chris Benson picked up the only RBI during the inning with a double down the right-field line. The other runs scored on a pass ball and a Portland error to tie the score at 5-5.
Gordon then took control on the mound and held Portland scoreless during the next 3.2 innings. Portland freshman reliever Kyle Kraus, the younger brother of Bryant, was just as masterful on the hill, matching Gordon pitch-for-pitch.
But Portland’s luck would end in the top of the 11th inning. With Sage Thorpe on first base, Jake Rickenbach gave the Wolverines the 6-5 lead with a double down the right field line. Kraus would eventually get out of the inning, allowing just the one run.
The bottom of the 11th looked promising after Smith led off the inning with a double to left field. But UVU reliever Jory Jensen would settle down to retire three of the final four UP batters to pick up the win. Powell reached base on an intentional walk.
Jensen (1-0) didn’t allow a run, walked just one and struck out three in 2.2 innings.
Kraus (0-1) was saddled with the loss, despite working a solid 5.2 innings. He struck out four and allowed one run on six hits. Lange lasted 5.0 innings, allowing four runs and only one earned run. He struck out two, gave up four hits and didn’t walk a batter.
The Wolverines finished the second game with an 11-6 advantage in hits, while the Pilots finished with five errors.
Portland next welcomes George Fox for a non-conference game at Joe Etzel Field on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
