Seattle U took the early lead in game one when Nick Latta (Tacoma, Wash.) led off the bottom of the third inning with a double to left field and scored on a single to center field by Michael Tevlin (Billings, Mont.). Portland responded in the top of the fourth, as Beau Fraser led off the inning with a home run off the left field foul pole to tie the game at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the 13th inning, when Portland's Matt Mardesich led off with a double to left-center field, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a single by Brian Frattali. Seattle U had a chance in the bottom of the 13th when Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) reached on an error and Matt Comer (Bozeman, Mont.) was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base with one out, but Pilot reliever Keeler Brynteson was able to induce a fly out and a popup to end the game.
Max Whieldon (Trabuco Hills, Calif.) earned his third straight quality start, allowing just six hits in 7 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. Bryan Dalton (Vancouver, Wash.) came on in relief and allowed just two hits and a walk in 3 2/3 innings, striking out five Pilot batters. Arlo Evasick (Port Ludlow, Wash.) took the loss after giving up the run in the 13th inning.
The Portland pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts while allowing just seven hits and two walks to the Redhawks. Owen Jones pitched the first six innings, followed by two innings from Brent Miller and three hitless innings by standout closer Chris Dennis. Tyler Thompson picked up the victory with 1 1/3 innings of work, with Brynteson earning his first save of the season.
Portland (6-1) jumped on top in the second inning of game two, as Ben Grubb sent a shot over the left field fence for a three-run home run, the first runs given up by Seattle U starter Brandon Kizer (Marysville, Wash.) this season. In the bottom of the second, Riley Tompkins (Lynnwood, Wash.) hit a two-out single, and Latta followed with a two-run home run to left field to cut the Pilot lead to one at 3-2.
Seattle U took advantage of a Portland pitching change in the sixth inning, as Scott Burris came on in relief of Chris Johnson. Comer hit a one-out double to left-center field, and pinch hitter Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) was intentionally walked. Josh Kutz (Seattle, Wash.), also in a pinch-hitting role, was able to shoot a ball deep into the hole at shortstop for an infield single to load the bases.
Thompson made his second appearance in the game, and Seattle U coach Donny Harrel once again went to his bench, using Steve Kirbach (Kirkland, Wash.) as a pinch hitter. Kirbach sent a slow ground ball up the middle, earning an RBI single that scored pinch runner Marcelino Morales (Pasco, Wash.) when Portland could not get anybody out. Bryndon Ecklund (Elma, Wash.) singled to right field that brought in Kalalau with the go-ahead run.
Eric Yardley (Richland, Wash.) replaced Kizer in the seventh inning and gave the Redhawks 1 1/3 innings of solid relief. After Kevin Armijo doubled to left-center field in the eighth inning, Harrel brought closer Blaine Jones (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) into the contest, and Jones gave up only a walk, striking out two batters in 1 2/3 innings of work to earn his second save of the season, clinching the doubleheader split for the Redhawks and handing the Pilots their first loss of the season.
"I want to complement my guys for the hard work they have put in so far this season," Harrel said after the doubleheader. "Once again our starting pitching was good all day, but because of the way the team has improved its depth, I was able to make moves in several key situations today, especially in the second game, in order to put the team in a position to win."
Trent Oleszczuk (Beaverton, Ore.) and Ecklund collected three hits apiece during the doubleheader, while Latta scored twice in the twinbill. For Portland, Frattali led the way, going 5-for-10, but the Pilots struggled to bring runners in, stranding 20 teammates on base, including 13 runners left on base in the first game.
Seattle University (5-4) will look to win its second consecutive series when it faces Portland in the rubber game of the weekend set Sunday, March 6, beginning at 12 noon at Bannerwood Park. Live stats for the game will be available on GoSeattleU.com.