Thanks to solid pitching by both teams, Seattle University and the University of Portland enjoyed few scoring chances during Saturday's contest, but the Pilots were able to convert in the 10th inning for a 1-0 extra-inning victory over the Redhawks in a collegiate baseball contest at Joe Etzel Field.
Seattle U had a chance to break through in the top of the 10th inning when Cash McGuire (Kent, Wash.) led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but a popout and a strikeout ended the Redhawks' threat. In the bottom of the 10th, Ben Grubb singled with one out and came around to score on a double hit by Colin Sowers.
Chase Fields (Ontario, Ore.) opened the game with a single, and Brian Olson (Black Diamond, Wash.) would draw a one-out walk to put two runners on in the top of the first inning, but back-to-back flyouts ended the Seattle U scoring chance. The other two Seattle U hits came in the seventh inning, as Grant Newton (Bend, Ore.) and McGuire picked up back-to-back singles to once again put two Redhawk runners on base with one out. However, consecutive groundouts kept Seattle U without a run.
Portland starter Kurt Yinger would allow just three hits over nine innings of work, retiring 14 straight Redhawk batters during one stretch and leaving the game with eight strikeouts. Jeremy Burright earned the victory after keeping the Redhawks off the scoreboard in the 10th inning.
Garrett Anderson (Kennewick, Wash.) was just as strong in his start, going seven innings and giving up just four hits and a walk while striking out three Pilot batters. Evan Ewing (Spokane, Wash.) came on in relief and faced the minimum six batters in the eighth and ninth innings before allowing the game-winning run in the 10th inning to suffer the loss.
Seattle University (4-11) and Portland (4-11) conclude the weekend series Sunday, March 10, starting at 1 p.m., before the Redhawks begin a five-game homestand at Bannerwood Stadium in Bellevue Tuesday, March 12, against Saint Martin's beginning at 4 p.m.
