March 19, 2010
Orem, Utah - A seven-run first inning propelled the Portland Pilots to a 10-4 victory over Utah Valley Friday night in the second game of a three-game set at Brent Brown Ballpark.
UVU starter Sam Armstrong gave up five runs in the first before being lifted for Justin Campbell, who surrendered five runs over the next 4 2/3 innings. The UVU offense, despite outhitting the Pilots, 12-11, couldn't crack Pilot starter Kyle Krause.
Krause fired a complete game and allowed just four runs while striking out three. He didn't walk a UVU hitter. The Wolverines, however, stranded eight base runners.
The Wolverines began chipping away at the Pilot lead with two runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI ground out by Billy Burgess and an RBI single to center by Chris Benson.
UVU scored a single run in the fifth with an RBI single by Burgess, and a run in the seventh on a homer by Jace Brinkerhof, who finished with two hits in the game.
UVU relievers Kade Andrus (3 1/3 innings) and Ryan Chadwick (1 inning) combined to hold the Pilots scoreless for the final four frames.
Jake Rickenbach finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and Brinkerhoff, Kevin Arendse and Cole McWhorter had two hits each for the Wolverines.
Beau Fraser led the Pilots with two hits, including a grand slam in the first inning.
The final game of the three-game set between the Wolverines and Pilots is set for 1 p.m. Saturday. Utah Valley won the first game of the series Thursday night on a walk-off homer by Sage Thorpe in the 10th.
