PORTLAND, Ore. — After a lengthy layoff plus a delayed start, Seattle U baseball (1-1) finally began the 2021 season with a doubleheader against Portland. The Redhawks split the Opening Day twin bill as they edged out a 5-4 victory in game one, before falling 7-0 in game two.
"It was a great regardless of outcomes because we were out playing baseball and that was a win for all those student-athletes," said Redhawks head coach Donny Harrel after game.
The series in the Rose City is set to conclude on Monday with first pitch slated for 1 pm.
Game 1
Leading 3-2 in the seventh, Seattle U added a pair of runs as Julian Kodama (2-4) dropped a single into left, which saw Gavin Rork (2-4) and Connor O'Brien (0-3) score on the play. Rork reached on a one-out single before finding his way to second during Austin Lively's (1-5) at-bat and advancing to third on a wild pitch. O'Brien meanwhile was walked and then put himself into scoring position as he stole second.
Portland then answered back in the home half as it pushed two across with a single, trimming the Redhawk margin to 5-4.
Entering the ninth, the Redhawks remained out front 5-4. After being retired in the top half of the frame, Seattle U went to the bullpen as Peter Chronowski (2.0 IP) made way for Lucas Ford. In this Redhawk debut, Ford dominated as he posted a 1-2-3 outing to secure the victory for Seattle U.
The Redhawks shook the rust off early as they took 3-0 during opening two frames. O'Brien touched home for the first run of the year, as Kodama doubled in the first. Lively then drove in two more with a double to left.
Alex Jemal was the Opening Day starter for the Redhawks, en route to earning his first-career win. The right-hander was in control early, surrendering just three hits against the first 11 batters faced. A shaky fourth saw Jemal concede three hits including a home run. He then held Portland scoreless as he retired four of the next six batters before another home run in sixth, which was his last inning of day.
Chronowski then pitched the seventh and eighth, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits.
Collectively, Seattle U scored its five runs on six hits and left six runners stranded, while Portland had 12 hits and left seven on base.
With the victory, the Redhawks registered their win against Portland since March 2018 and snapped a five-game skid.
Game 2
The Redhawk struggled in the nightcap as they were outhit by the Pilots, 9-1. Kodama (1-4) registered the lone hit in the sixth with a single down the left field line, but was one of the six Seattle U runners stranded.
The Pilots opened the scoring with one run in the fourth, before bursting for sixth more during in the seventh.
Morgan White was charged with the loss after four innings of work, allowing one run on four hits. He also walked four and struck out five in his Seattle U debut. Alex McBee (2.1 IP), Mason Hoover (0.2 IP) and Desmond Parisotto (1.0 IP) meanwhile made relief appearances. McBee surrendered four runs on three hits, with Hoover allowing two runs on one hit. The quartet combined for 10 strikeouts and stranded 11 Portland runners.