Box Score

BELLEVUE, Wash. --- Freshman Billy Sahlinger threw six solid innings in his first collegiate start and junior Turner Gill had three hits and two RBI’s as the Pilots defeated the Seattle Redhawks 6-4 in a non-conference baseball game at Bannerwood Park on Tuesday evening. Sahlinger allowed just one run on two hits, while striking out six to earn his first career win.
 
Sahlinger (1-0), who originally hails from Bellevue, struck out four of the first seven batters he faced, all of them looking.
 
The Pilots (1-4) wasted little time in providing Sahlinger some run support as senior Brian Frattali brought home sophomore Caleb Whalen with an RBI single to right field in the top of the first inning. Then with runners on second and third and one out, SU starter Skyler Genger retired the next two batters to avoid further damage.
 
Sahlinger cruised through the first three innings before surrendering a lead-off double to Nate Roberts in the bottom of the fourth. Roberts would advance to third base on a wild pitch before scoring the tying run on a ground out.
 
Portland then re-claimed the lead with a run in the top of the fifth before creating some breathing room with four runs in the seventh. With runners on second and third and one out in the fifth, Whalen was able to knock in Ben Grubb with a sacrifice fly to center field, giving the Pilots a 2-1 lead.
 
Then in the seventh, sophomore Michael Lucarelli picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice before Gill knocked in a pair with a single to right field. Sophomore Cody Lenahan then capped the four-run frame with an RBI double down the left field lane, making it a 6-1 game in Portland’s favor.
 
The Redhawks (1-3) tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth scoring three runs before getting the potential game-tying run to second base. But with two outs and two runners on, senior reliever Jeremy Burright shut the door by striking out Roberts.
 
Burright, who replaced senior Matt McCallister in the ninth inning, worked an inning to earn his first career save. The Pilots used four pitchers total, with junior Chad Kjemhus striking out a pair during a scoreless and hitless 2.0 innings.
 
Genger (0-1) was the first of five Seattle pitchers and he takes the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings.
 
Nine different players recorded a hit for the Pilots, who out-hit the Redhawks 13-5.
 
The Pilots next return home for a series this weekend against the Utah Valley Wolverines. The three-game set is scheduled to begin with a 2 p.m. game on Friday at Joe Etzel Field.