The Portland Pilots secured their first series sweep of the season with an 11-3 victory over the Holy Cross Crusaders on Sunday. This win brings the Pilots’ record to 8-6 for the year.
Freshman Dakota Chun had a standout performance, collecting four hits in five at-bats and driving in two runs with a double. Chun is now the second Pilot this season to record at least four hits in a single game. Cody Nitowitz and Brooks Avery also contributed multiple hits, going 2-for-4 and 2-for-3 respectively. Brady Bean and Cole Katayama-Stall each drove in three runs, with Katayama-Stall’s RBIs coming from a pinch-hit appearance.
Will Labonte earned his first official win as a Pilot pitcher, allowing just one run over five innings and striking out four batters. It was also the first run he has allowed this season. Relief pitchers Ky Hoskinson, Kaden Segel, Grady Keljo, and Alexander Via also made appearances for Portland.
The Crusaders opened scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. The Pilots responded by scoring eight consecutive runs, including six in the fifth inning. Key moments included Chun’s two-run double in the third inning and Katayama-Stall’s three-run double as a pinch hitter in the fifth.
Holy Cross managed to score two runs off an error in the sixth inning, but Portland quickly regained those runs with Jonas Salk’s sacrifice fly and Bean’s two-run single later that inning.
After sweeping Holy Cross, Portland has now scored at least 10 runs in every game of this series.
Looking ahead, the Pilots will host the UConn Huskies for a three-game series next weekend at Joe Etzel Field from March 13 to March 15. Fans can find ticket information or follow team updates on PortlandPilots.com.
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