The University of Portland needed just one big inning Tuesday afternoon, as the Seattle University offense could not get anything going in a 6-0 loss to the Pilots in collegiate baseball action at Bannerwood Park.
After four scoreless innings, Ryan Littlefield led off the top of the fifth inning with a single, and pinch hitter Grant Taylor drew a walk. Chet Thompson laid down a bunt in front of the plate, but the throw from Redhawk catcher Sam Finfer (Bellevue, Wash.) to third base was not in time, loading the bases with nobody out. Devin Kopas’s grounder found a hole on the left side of the infield, driving in Littlefield with the first run of the game.
With one out, Cody Lenahan drove in Taylor with a sacrifice fly to left field, and Caleb Whalen followed with a single that once again loaded the bases. Turner Gill came up with a big two-out single to right field, scoring Thompson and Kopas, and Whalen would score on a single by Kevin Wade that ended the day for Seattle U starter Austin Hansen (Mukilteo, Wash.).
Portland (5-10) added a run when Littlefield hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. Meanwhile, Pilot starter Jackson Lockwood allowed just four hits and two walks in seven innings of work, and then reliever Davis Tominaga closed out the game with two innings of one-hit relief.
The Redhawks had their chances, starting with a leadoff triple by Chase Fields (Ontario, Ore.) in the first inning, but he remained at third base through the rest of the inning. Seattle U left nine runners on base, including six runners in scoring position, and hit into a double play in the fifth inning.
Hansen took the loss after giving up six hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings of work, but he did strike out four Pilot batters. Kyle Doyle (Covington, Wash.) also struck out four batters while allowing just the solo home run in 3 1/3 innings of relief, and Skyler Genger (Kent, Wash.) picked up two strikeouts during a perfect ninth inning.
Seattle University (6-11) will look for the split of the midweek series Wednesday, March 12, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.