Box Score
SALEM, Ore. --- Oregon pitcher Jordan Spencer held Portland hitless as the Ducks claimed a 3-0 win over the Pilots in a non-conference baseball game played on Wednesday night at Volcanoes Stadium. Just two Portland batters reached base against Spencer.
Turner Gill reached base for Portland (2-12) in the bottom of the fifth inning when he got hit by a pitch, and Caleb Whalen also got on board following an Oregon (26-10) error in the seventh. Whalen stuck out on a pitch in the dirt, forcing Oregon catcher Brett Hambright to throw down to first. The throw was a bit wide and pulled the Ducks first base man off the base, allowing Whalen to reach safely.
But it was otherwise a perfect night for Spencer (2-1), who struck out five in 9.0 innings.
The Pilots were also solid on the hill, getting strong performances from five different pitchers. Kody Watts (2-1) takes the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in 3.2 innings. Watts fanned a pair.
Reliever Keeler Brynteson allowed a run in 2.1 innings, while striking out three. Brandon Snyder followed with 2.0 scoreless innings, Chad Kjemhus tossed a scoreless eighth, and Portland closer Owen Jones worked a scoreless ninth.
Oregon’s first two runs came in the top of the third inning. The first run came after Kevin Sheppard was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt and scored on a wild pitch. A few batters later Ryon Healy made it a 2-0 game with an RBI single.
Oregon’s third run was also courtesy a wild pitch. In the fifth, back-to-back singles gave the Ducks runners on second and third. Aaron Payne then easily scored after a pitch ended up by the back stop.
The Pilots came through defensively in the seventh, cutting off two potential runs at home plate. First, Payne tried to score on a grounder to short. But Kris Kauppila came up with the pick, threw home and Payne was retired after a brief rundown.
The very next batter, Brett Thomas, sent a single to left field. Healy tried to score from second base, but Whalen threw an absolute strike from left field to cut off Healy and keep the Pilots within three runs.
Portland catcher Bo Cornish also had a productive night, throwing out three would-be base stealers.
The Pilots next return to the West Coast Conference as Portland heads south to Los Angeles, Calif., for a three-game series against the Loyola Marymount Lions this weekend. Friday’s game is set for 3 p.m., Saturday’s will start at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.