March 6, 2009
Final Stats
PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland scored single runs in four innings and survived a seventh-inning rally from UC Davis to win the first game of a non-conference baseball series, 4-2, at Joe Etzel Field Friday afternoon.
The loss dips the Aggies to 2-6 overall while the Pilots win their second straight game to improve to 6-4. It marks Portland's fourth straight win over UC Davis dating back to the 2007 season.
The Aggies' two runs came during a rally in the seventh inning. Pinch hitters Grant Bauer and Grant Hirneise supplied the RBIs with the bases loaded. It was the second straight pinch-hit RBI from Hirneise. Ryan Scoma tied a game high with a 2-for-4 performance while Jared Thompson and Eric Johnson accounted for the other Aggie hits.
Portland got 6.1 strong innings from starter Scott Burris and then received 2.2 shutout innings from reliever Zach Varce to earn the victory. Burris allowed only one earned run and five hits while striking out three to earn his third straight victory. Varce did not allow a hit and had one strikeout for his second save of the season.
Bryant Kraus, Chase Powell and Riley Henricks all went 2-for-4 to match Scoma's game high. Henricks also drove home a run and scored a run. The only other two RBIs for Portland came off sacrifices. Portland scored on a wild pitch as well.
Jeremy McChesney had the best start of his season for the Aggies as he went 5.1 innings and allowed three runs off five hits in the loss. Tyler Bremer pitched the final 2.2 innings.
The Pilots opened the scoring with single runs in the second and third innings. The run in the second came off a ground out to second from Rocky Gale while the third inning run was scored off a sacrifice fly from Beau Fraser.
Portland upped its lead to 3-0 with another single run in the sixth inning off an RBI-single to left field from Henricks.
UC Davis rallied in the seventh inning and scored two runs to cut the Pilot lead to 3-2. Mihaylo reached on an error to open the inning, and Thompson and Scoma singled to load the bases with no outs. Following a pop out, Bauer hit a pinch-hit single to score Mihaylo. Hirneise came in to pinch hit in the next at bat and was walked on five pitches from Varce to bring Thompson home. The Pilots then turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
The Pilots added their final run in the eighth when Henricks scored from third base on a wild pitch.
The series concludes tomorrow with a doubleheader after Sunday's game was moved up due to expected inclement weather. The first game will begin at 11 a.m.
