April 17, 2010

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. - LMU (16-17, 0-5) managed just one run on five hits en route to falling by a count of 5-1 on Saturday in the second game of a three-game series against Portland (22-9, 7-1) at Portland's Joe Etzel Field.

Sophomore John Lally got the start and took the loss after pitching five and a third innings and allowing four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out two. Chris Eusebio tossed the final two and two-thirds, surrendering a run on four hits and two walks while striking out four.

Kyle Kraus turned in the second consecutive gem on the hill for Portland, pitching seven and two-thirds innings, allowing a run on four hits and striking out eight batters. He improved to 7-0 with the victory, and retired 14 straight hitters from the second through the end of the sixth. Chris Dennis entered with two on and two out in the eighth en route to recording the final four outs in the game for Portland to secure his eighth save of the year.

Beau Fraser collected three of Portland's 10 hits, while Riley Henricks had a superb day for the second time in as many days, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and three runs scored. Nick Armenta made the most of his one hit on Saturday, collecting a bases-clearing three-RBI double with the bases loaded and two-out in the sixth.

For the second consecutive day, Ryan Hawthorne led the Lion offense, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate. Jonathan Johnson scored the lone Lion run in the seventh, while Matt Koch was credited with the RBI.

Portland got on the board first in the second inning, plating a run with two out in the frame. Henricks singled and stole second base to set the table for a Garrett Queen RBI-single back up the middle. A second Pilot run came in in the fourth when Queen contributed a two-out infield single to bring home Henricks who had doubled earlier in the frame.

Already leading 2-0, Portland extended the lead to 5-0 after six. A single and a walk chased Lally from the hill and brought Eusebio in from the Lion bullpen. The right-hander allowed an infield single to load the bases before LMU got a ground ball that was relayed home for the second out without allowing anyone to score. Unfortunately for LMU, Armenta would not let the Lions off the hook without damage, lining a bases-clearing double into left centerfield for three RBI.

The Lions threatened in a big way in the top of the seventh, but only managed one run in the frame. The first of two Johnson hit-by-pitches started the inning before Jason Barmasse and Hawthorne both singled to load the bases with nobody out. Koch, LMU's cleanup hitter, came to the plate and chopped a ground ball to third base to bring home the run at a cost of an out. Kraus got tough from there, punching out Matt Lowenstein and Shon Roe to end the Lion threat.

LMU and Portland will conclude the three-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m.