Pilots Homer Twice In Win Over Ducks

Tuesday, March 31

Eugene, Ore.

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

11-15

Portland

16-11

Portland

Oregon Ducks

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

04/01/09 | Baseball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. - Back-to-back home runs for Portland gave the Pilots an early lead they never relinquished in a 3-1 victory over Oregon on Tuesday at PK Park.

Cort Carpenter and Riley Henricks sent back-to-back solo round-trippers over the wall in left center off Oregon starter Chris Garrison to lead off the fifth inning and give Portland a 2-0 lead.

Garrison (0-1) had been exceptional on the mound until that point, facing just one batter over the minimum until the start of the fifth. The Rocklin, Calif., native took the loss and finished his day pitching 4 and 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while dealing four strikeouts.

The Ducks (11-15) cut the Pilots lead in half in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single to left from freshman Danny Pulfer. The Cypress, Calif., native had runners on first and second when he slipped a ball through the left side bringing Antony Kreitz home from second. Kreitz reached base with a bunt single that fell under the glove of Portland third baseman Kevin Armjo, and moved to second on Scott McGough's sacrifice bunt.

The Pilots (16-11) added an insurance run in the eighth after Armjo led off the inning with a hard driven double down the right field line. Armjo moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and later scored on an RBI sacrifice fly hit to left by Bryant Kraus.

Portland used four pitchers on Tuesday, limiting Oregon to one run on four hits. The Ducks have now lost three of their last four, and in those three losses have scored one run in each game.

Righthander Brent Miller (3-1) earned the win for UP, while Zach Varce picked up his sixth save of the season pitching the final 1 and 2/3 innings, and keeping Oregon off the bases.

Oregon freshman Scott McGough made his first start of the season at shortstop, and made his first defensive highlight of the season in the fourth. With a runner on first and two outs in the inning, McGough made a diving grab just beyond second base on a ball that was headed for the outfield, and recovered in time to flip the ball to Josh Hogan at second base for the third out of the inning.

An error and back-to-back walks dealt by Ed Wakefield had the bases loaded for Oregon in the bottom of the third, but Portland's lefthander retired Tommasini with a ground out to Armjo ending the inning.

Notes: Oregon freshman Scott McGough made his first start of the season at shortstop...Eddy Rodriguez returned to the starting lineup (playing first base) for the first time since spraining his right knee at Nevada on March 14...Oregon freshman KC Serna made his second appearance on the mound this season...Caleb Tommasini's eight-game hitting streak was ended...Oregon is 0-2 against Portland this season.