WCC Baseball: San Diego Blasts Pilots in Opener, 15-1

Senior starter Sean Sargent (1-4) took the loss for the Pilots.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SAN DIEGO - Friday the 13th was not kind to the University of Portland baseball team as the Pilots fell 15-1 in the first game of a three-game West Coast Conference set against No. 21 San Diego.

The Pilots go to 14-18 (2-5 WCC) while the Toreros improve to 27-13 (5-2 WCC).

The Pilots started the game off on the right foot, plating a run in the opening frame.

After junior right fielder Danny Meier ripped a single to left field and senior left fielder Justin Pierce reached on an error, sophomore first baseman Chase Powell (pictured) smacked an RBI double to right field to put the Pilots ahead 1-0.

San Diego did not trail for long, however, as the Toreros connected on three consecutive doubles and capitalized on a Pilot error to score seven runs – four earned – in the bottom of the first inning to put the game out of reach.

Left hander Brian Matusz (7-2) picked up the win, allowing one earned run and four hits through eight strong innings of work. Matusz also added to his WCC-leading strikeout total, fanning 13.

Senior starter Sean Sargent (1-4) took the loss for the Pilots. Freshman left hander Ed Wakefield saw his first action of the season, throwing three innings in relief of Sargent.

Senior Justin Ehlers and Brian Cox also appeared for Portland, with each tossing two innings.

For Portland, Powell had two of the team’s four hits and picked up the sole RBI. Meier and freshman catcher Rocky Gale also connected for hits.

For San Diego, catcher Jordan Abruzzo went 2-for-3 with three RBI, including a two-run home run in the eighth inning.

Left fielder Logan Gelbrich went 2-for-5 with one RBI, leading off the fourth inning with a solo shot to left field.

Right fielder Shane Buschini went 1-for-4 with three RBI, while second baseman Justin Snyder and designated hitter Josh Romanski had three hits apiece.

The Pilots and Toreros continue their series on Saturday, and conclude it on Sunday, with both games at 1:00 PM.

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