The Portland Pilots lost to the Pacific Tigers 7-5 in the opening game of their West Coast Conference baseball series at Joe Etzel Field, according to a May 14 announcement from the team.
The game was notable for Portland’s late rally, as the team scored five unanswered runs despite recording only one hit throughout the night. The result leaves Portland with a record of 25-25 overall and 11-14 in conference play.
Ky Hoskinson provided four shutout innings out of the bullpen for Portland, allowing two hits, walking one batter, and striking out two. Grady Keljo also contributed with a scoreless ninth inning. Offensively, Aaron Lewis led with two runs batted in for the Pilots while Cole Katayama Stall went one-for-three with a run scored, an RBI, and a walk.
For Pacific, Zach Todd did not allow a hit through six innings and finished his seven-inning outing giving up just one hit along with two walks and two runs while striking out five batters. Regan Carter earned his second save by pitching two shutout innings in relief and striking out three.
The Tigers built an early lead by scoring five runs in the third inning followed by a two-run home run from Robert Orr in the fifth. The Pilots broke up Todd’s no-hitter in the sixth inning when Katayama Stall singled to right field to drive home their first run. Despite loading the bases on walks during an eighth-inning rally that cut Pacific’s lead to just two runs after another sacrifice fly from Lewis, Carter struck out consecutive batters to end Portland’s comeback attempt before retiring them in order during the ninth.
The series will continue Friday evening at Joe Etzel Field with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m., followed by Senior Day on Saturday.
