Homer Happy Pilots Defeat Creighton, 5-3
LONGVIEW, Wash. --- Freshman OF Caleb Whalen continued his torrid start to the season, hitting the first of three Pilot home runs on the day as the Portland Pilots defeated the Creighton Blue Jays 5-3 in a non-conference game Sunday afternoon. The game was played at David B. Story Field at Lower Columbia Community College’s campus because of unplayable field conditions at Joe Etzel Field.
Portland improves to 5-0 for the second consecutive season while Creighton falls to 3-2.
Whalen gave the Pilots a 1-0 lead, leading off the second inning with a home run off the scoreboard in left center field. A few batters later, senior IF Kris Kauppila extended the lead with a two-run home run inside the left field foul pole. It was the second home run of the season for both players.
The Pilots tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning following a 46-minute rain delay. Sophomore OF Turner Gill led off the inning with an infield single and stole second before junior IF Brian Frattali lined a home run that just cleared the wall down the left field line.
Creighton pushed one across in the sixth inning and threatened to draw closer with two aboard and one out. Senior LHP Keeler Brynteson entered the game to face the lefty Anthony Bemboom. Bemboom lined a pitch right at Frattali, who stepped on first for the unassisted double play to end the threat.
Portland chased Brandon Koenigstein (0-1) after 3.1 innings. Creighton’s righty allowed three runs on three hits, but command issues resulted in five Portland walks before Nick Musec finished the inning.
Freshman Travis Radke (1-0) turned in an impressive performance for the Pilots. The Pilots’ southpaw held Creighton scoreless in 5.0 innings of work in his second career start, allowing two hits and picking off two baserunners. Radke kept the Blue Jays guessing, fanning six while inducing seven groundouts and no flyouts.
Senior Owen Jones, one of five Pilot relievers on the day, picked up his first save of the season. Creighton used five pitchers, with Chase Webb turning in the best performance with 2.1 scoreless innings.
The Pilots held an 8-7 advantage in hits. Creighton added a run in the eighth inning on the only error of the game.
Portland will now head to Eugene for a solo non-conference game against the Oregon Ducks on Tuesday. The Pilots and Ducks are scheduled for a 6 p.m. game at PK Park.
