Play Ball!!!!

Kyle Kraus pitched 7.0 solid innings and Kris Kauppila drove in three runs as the Portland Pilots opened the 2012 season with an 11-0 shutout of Stephen F. Austin at the Lamar Classic on Friday afternoon. Kraus, a senior right-hander struck out seven and allowed just three hits.

The Pilots (1-0) scored during each of the first four innings, including a five-run third inning to hand Kraus (1-0) all the support he would need. Ben Grubb opened the scoring in the first inning by knocking in Kauppila, who had led off with a double.

Portland added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning, courtesy a two-out, two-run single by Kauppila, before the five-run outburst in the third. Jeff Melby had the big hit during the frame, a two-run double, while Kauppila and Caleb Whalen also picked up RBI’s.

Grubb drilled a solo home run in the fourth, and Sam Westendorf drove in a run in the seventh to cap the scoring for the Pilots.

The win gives Kraus, a pre-season All-American, 21 for his career, leaving him just four W’s shy of matching the all-time mark for career wins at UP. Kraus walked just two and allowed just one runner to advance past first base.

Junior right-hander J.R. Bunda followed Kraus on the mound and retired the Lumberjacks in order during the final 2.0 innings. Bunda struck out a pair.

Chase Greening (0-1) took the loss for SFA (0-1), allowing eight runs, five earned, in 3.0 innings of work. Greening was one of five pitchers used by the Lumberjacks.

Kauppila and Grubb each finished with three hits, while Melby had two. Kauppila also scored three times. Chris Hernandez had two of SFA’s three hits.

The Pilots next face tournament host Lamar at Vincent-Beck Stadium on Saturday. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. (Pacific), and the Pilots are scheduled to start freshman left-hander Travis Radke on the hill.

Portland senior shortstop Kris Kauppila was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week after helping the Pilots open the season with two convincing wins over Stephen F. Austin.

Kauppila went 5-for-9 (.556) at the plate during the weekend with four RBI’s, a double, a homer and six runs scored. He also swiped one base and was flawless in the field.

During UP’s season-opening 11-0 win over the Lumberjacks in Beaumont, Texas, on Friday, Kauppila had three hits, three RBI’s, three runs, a double and a stolen base. He led off Sunday’s 10-5 win with a solo home run. He’d add another hit and a walk, while scoring three times.

Portland senior reliever Owen Jones was named the Rawlings West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week after saving all three games during a weekend sweep of Air Force. Jones now has five saves on the year, helping Portland to a 10-2 start to the season.

Jones, a right-hander from Edmonds, Wash., pitched in all four games last week as the Pilots went 4-0 at home against Concordia and Air Force. In 3.2 innings overall, Jones fanned seven of the 11 batters he faced, while not allowing a hitter to reach base. On Saturday, he saved both games of the double header against Air Force, striking out three in 1.1 innings during the first game. He struck out all three batters he faced during the 5-0 win over Concordia on Tuesday.

Portland is off to a 10-2 start for only the third time in program history, and the Pilots have matched the program’s all-time mark with 10 straight home wins, dating back to last season.

tradke wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4MLHzxOdik&feature=channel

SEATTLE - Portland scored three runs in the second inning and then held on to beat the Washington baseball team, 4-1, Tuesday evening in a non-conference game at Husky Ballpark.

The Pilots improved to 11-2 on the season with the win while Washington fell to 10-6. The game featured a half-hour delay in the middle of the seventh inning due to snow.

Portland reliever Matt McCallister (3-0), who entered the game to begin the fourth inning, picked up the victory. In five innings, he allowed one run on four hits. Owen Jones pitched the ninth to pick up his sixth save.

Husky starter Mac Acker (2-2) took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks over one and one-third innings.

UW relievers Steven Swift (three and two-thirds innings), Adam Cimber (two) and Zach Wright (two) held the Pilots to just one run the rest of the way after the second inning.

In the second, the Pilots loaded the bases on an error and a pair of walks before Nick Armenta drove in two runs with a one-out single through the left side. With Steven Swift on in relief for the UW, a hit batter reloaded the bases and a sacrifice fly from Pilots second baseman Cody Lenahan made it a 3-0 Portland lead.

Washington scored its first run in the fifth when Michael Camporeale led off with a double to deep center and then eventually scored from third on an Erik Forgione groundout.

The Pilots added a fourth run in the ninth when Armenta scored from third on a passed ball.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Huskies brought the potential tying run to the plate after a walk to Jacob Lamb and a single from Camporeale, but Jones got a strikeout to end the game.

The Huskies got two hits each from Camporeale, Jayce Ray, Joe Meggs and Branden Berry. Armenta and Brian Fratalli contributed two hits apiece for the Pilots.

This weekend, the Huskies begin Pac-12 Conference play with a three-game series vs. Oregon at Husky Ballpark. Game times are 5:00 p.m. Friday, 2:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

PurpleGeezer wrote:Up is now 11-2. From the Huskie site :Gotta love the snow delay.