Junior Seafth Howe (Seattle, Wash.) allowed four hits and three walks in six innings of work to earn his second victory of the season. He worked his way out of a jam in the first inning, as Portland put two runners on base with one out before Howe induced a foul out and a lineout. Howe also allowed the first two batters to reach base in the sixth inning, but Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) started the second 5-4-3 double play in as many innings to keep the Pilots off the scoreboard.
"Seafth was outstanding, he got in some situations when they had some opportunities to score, but his changeup is so tough to sit on, and he got out of those big situations," head coach Donny Harrel said. "We kept grinding and grinding, and our offense finally took advantage of situations that we haven't in the past and got some key hits."
With two outs in the first inning, Doug Kincaid (Portland, Ore.) sent a grounder deep into the hole at second base that Riley Henricks could not corral. Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) was hit by a pitch, and Matt Comer (Bozeman, Mont.) followed with a double into the left-center field gap to bring both runners home. In the fourth inning, Comer walked, advanced to third on a single by Riley Tompkins (Lynnwood, Wash.), and scored on a wild pitch to increase the Redhawk advantage to 3-0.
With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Comer earned another RBI with a sacrifice fly that brought Roberts home. Comer again caused issues in the seventh inning, forcing a throwing error by Kevin Armijo that scored Kincaid, who had picked up his second double of the game. Tompkins sent a shot to the right field wall later in the seventh inning that scored pinch runner Marcelino Morales (Pasco, Wash.) and gave the Redhawks a 6-0 lead.
The wheels came off for the Portland defense in the eighth inning, as the Pilots committed three errors, a balk, and a passed ball to allow Seattle U to score six runs in the frame with the benefit of only one hit. Portland was able to break the shutout in the ninth inning thanks to a two-run home run by Ben Grubb, his second in as many games.
Comer finished the game with three runs batted in, while Kincaid went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Conor Spink (Eagle River, Alaska) also gave a great pitching performance for the Redhawks, throwing two perfect innings with three strikeouts.
"The pitching and defense was consistent all weekend, which is why we came away with two wins," said Harrel. "It means a lot to win a series on our true home field that we have helped get ready, but we have more work to do this week to keep it going."
Seattle University (6-4) will play the first of four games against the Washington Huskies this season Tuesday, March 8, at Husky Ballpark beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Redhawks return to Bannerwood Park to begin a six-game homestand with games against Saint Martin's (March 9) and Pacific Lutheran (March 12) this week.