Pilots Shutdown Concordia

Portland pitching holds the Cavaliers to four hits in a 5-2 win.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

PORTLAND - Portland senior Adam Kerr went 4-for-5 with two RBI’s as the Pilots defeated the Concordia Cavaliers 5-2 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field.

The Cavaliers mustered just four hits in the game.

Kerr, the designated hitter, also scored a run for the Pilots, who improve to 2-3 on the season.

Senior first baseman James Allan had two hits in four at-bats and also drove in a pair.

UP starter Danny Meier (1-1) allowed just two runs on three hits in 7.1 innings to pick up his first win of the season.

He struck out eight and walked two. Reliever Brian Yoakum recorded the final two outs in the top of the eighth.

Portland senior closer Josh Roberts struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season.

Roberts has struck out the last five batters he has faced and has yet to allow a base runner in 2.2 innings of relief this season.

Concordia starter Bryan Goff (0-1) gave up two runs on five hits in four innings of work. Concordia, an NAIA school, used four pitchers in the game and falls to 0-2 this season.

The Pilots broke open a scoreless game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning.

With runners on the corners and one out, Allan drove in his first run of the season on a fielder’s choice.

Junior outfielder Billy Krause scored on the grounder to the shortstop. Kerr was cut down at second base.

Then with two outs and runners on first and second, senior third baseman Jesse Rodgers brought home Allan with a base knock to left field that made the score 2-0.

CU cut the lead in half with a deep fly in the top of the fifth. Catcher Cody Herrick hit a lead-off home run, his first of the season, that sailed over the left-field fence.

Portland added another run in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 3-1 lead.

With two outs, Kerr drilled a double down the left field line. Allan followed Kerr with a base hit to left for his second RBI of the day.

The Cavaliers again made it a one-run game in the top of the seventh inning.

Yoakum relieved Meier after a one-out walk to Sean Statchan.

After a fly out to right field, Josh Mandin brought home a run with a double to center field. Yoakum then induced an inning-ending fly ball from Casey McLeod.

In the eight, Portland scored its final two runs. Kerr came up to the plate after an intentional walk to Krause loaded the bases with one out.

Kerr then drilled his fourth hit of the day up the middle that plated two.

The Pilots finished with 10 hits and no errors.

Portland and Concordia are scheduled to play again on Wednesday at 2:00 PM at Joe Etzel Field.

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