The Portland Pilots will play their last nonconference baseball game of the season against the No. 7 Oregon State Beavers on May 12 at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
This matchup is significant as it marks the end of Portland’s nonconference schedule before they complete their regular season. The Pilots enter the contest with a record of 25-23 overall and an 11-13 mark in West Coast Conference play, having lost their last four games, including a recent extra-inning defeat to Oregon State.
In their previous meeting, Portland pushed Oregon State to a twelve-inning contest before falling short by a score of 6-4 at Hillsboro Ballpark. That marathon was the longest game played by the Pilots this year. Offensively, Swygart and Cote each hit home runs during that matchup—bringing both players’ totals to three homers apiece over the last four games—while Cole Katayama-Stall contributed a two-run double late in the game.
Pitching has been one of Portland’s strengths this season; they lead their conference in earned run average (ERA), walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), walks allowed per nine innings, and shutouts. Nationally, they are ranked among the top teams for ERA and walks allowed per nine innings. Freshman pitcher Will Labonte has stood out with an ERA of 2.63—second best in conference—and has received multiple weekly honors as well as national recognition as a semifinalist for College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year.
Head coach Geoff Loomis is guiding his team through his eleventh year at Portland and has accumulated over 250 career wins with the program—a milestone achieved by only three other coaches in school history. The coaching staff also includes associate head coach Trey Watt and player development director Jarvis Gomes.
Oregon State comes into Tuesday’s matchup with an overall record of 40-11 after advancing to last year’s College World Series under head coach Mitch Canham’s leadership.
