Cougars lose game three to Pilots on Saturday

PROVO, Utah — Portland won the rubber match of a three-game baseball series with BYU, 22-8, at Miller Park on Saturday afternoon. 

With the victory, the Pilots improve to 24-18 (13-8 WCC) on the season, while BYU falls to 18-23 (8-10). 

Game Summary 
  •  Pilots scored 22 runs on 21 hits, while BYU had 8 runs on 12 hits
  •  Portland hit .512 (21-41), BYU hit .300 (12-40)
  •  Pilots had seven two-out RBI

BYU Highlights
  •  Ryan Sepede: 2-5, 3 RBI, Run, HR
  •  Easton Jones: 3-3, Run
  •  Cole Gambill: 2-5, 2 RBI, 2 Runs, 2B
  •  Cooper Vest: 1-3, RBI

Portland jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs on three walks and two hits for a 2-0 lead. 

The Pilots picked up another run in the top half of the second on a double and a single to increase the lead to three. BYU respond with a run in the bottom half of the inning on a Cole Gambill double and a Cooper Vest RBI ground ball to cut the Portland advantage to 3-1. 

After two scoreless innings the Pilots added four runs in the fifth on three hits, a walk and a hit batter to extend their lead to 7-1. Five more runs on five hits in the seventh inning increased the Portland lead to 11-1. 

BYU picked up run in the seventh on an Easton Jones single to left, combined with a Ozzie Pratt walk and a groundball down the left field line by Luke Anderson to score Jones for a 12-2 score.

Portland blew the game open with five runs in the eighth and five more in the ninth for a 22-2 lead. 

BYU scored six runs in the bottom the ninth on a hit batter and five hits. Cutter Clawson singled to score Dawson Hall who had reach on a single. Gambill then singled to score Chad Call who had doubled and Alex Sardina who was hit by a pitch. Ryan Sepede then hit a 475-foot home run to left center to drive home Gambil and Clawson for the final score of 22-8. 

Portland starter Nick Brink (2-0) went seven innings, scattering seven hits for the win, while Cougars starter Ben Hansen (0-2) took the loss for BYU. 

The Cougars head to La Jolla, California, for a midweek game with UC San Diego on Tuesday at 6 p.m. PDT. BYU will then resume West Coast Conference play with a weekend series with San Diego, May 4-6 at Fowler Park.