Box Score
MORAGA, Calif. --- Freshman right-hander Kyle Kraus tossed another gem and led the Portland Pilots to a 3-1 victory over Saint Mary’s in the final game of a three-game West Coast Conference baseball series at Louis Guisto Field. The Pilots fought off the series sweep after Saint Mary’s took the matchups on Friday and Saturday.
Kraus (3-2) went seven strong innings and scattered five hits and five walks while allowing just one run. Sophomore right-hander Zach Varce tossed two scoreless innings to pick up his fifth save of the season.
Senior outfield Bryant Kraus, the older brother of Kyle, got the scoring started with a leadoff home run in the second inning down the left field line. It was his team-leading sixth round-tripper of the season and 25th RBI. Kraus would add a double in his next at-bat.
Freshman DH Beau Fraser doubled the lead with a two-out double to score freshman OF Garrett Queen in the fifth inning. Portland (15-11, 1-2 WCC) made it 3-0 in the sixth as junior C Rocky Gale singled up the middle to score sophomore 2B Riley Hendricks.
Saint Mary’s (16-11, 2-1) threatened in the sixth with a leadoff homer by Channing followed by a single from Kyle Janzen, but Kraus retired the next three batters to quell the rally.
Gaels starter Kyle Barraclough went 6.0 innings allowing three earned runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked two Pilot batters.
Both teams had seven hits with the Gaels stranding eight runners and the Pilots leaving seven on base.
Portland will return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 31 to face the University of Oregon on the road at 3 p.m. in a non-conference meeting. The Pilots will then head to Loyola Marymount for a three-game set starting on Friday at 3 p.m.
