Portland got hot early, scoring two runs on four hits in the top of the first inning eventually leading to a Pilots victory with a final score of 14-8.

Anchored by third baseman Evan Scavotto and Central Catholic graduate Christian Cooney, the Pilots blazed their way to an early lead. Portland finished the game with 20 hits.

“I don’t like to dwell on this stuff too much. Our job as coaches is to set the example of what that looks like. What are our learning moments and how can  we move forward? Just like when we win a big game, I don’t like to jump too high. . . its about staying the course and I’m excited for our practice tomorrow,” head coach Mitch Canham said.

Early in the matchup, Portland starting pitcher Brock Gillis struggled to find the zone. On no hits, the Beavers tied the game at two on four walks and a wild pitch, scoring center fielder Micah McDowell from third. McDowell would pick up his 14th stolen base of the year moments earlier.  

The Beaver bullpen struggled against the glowing Pilot bats, going through six pitchers in the contest. With two outs in the second inning pitching mishaps from starting pitcher Aiden Jiminez led to a three run homerun from Scavotto, his tenth of the year.

Down by three in the third inning, McDowell gave the Beavers their first hit of the game, launching a solo home run of his own in an attempt to cut into the threatening Pilot lead. When the Beavers keyed in on the timing of Gillis, this prompted a pitching change from the Pilots. 

Sophomore reliever Kaden Segel took over and managed to escape danger until he was relieved of his duty in the sixth. 

The Pilots continued to light up the scoreboard throughout Tuesday’s contest as back-to-back doubles from Cooney and center fielder Jake Holcroft pushed Portland ahead 7-3. 

With bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning, Portland catcher Tyler Howard drew himself a walk adding one more to the mounting lead. Braden Boisvert stopped the bleeding in the fourth for the Beavers, picking up a much-needed strikeout, leaving three Pilot runners on base. 

Scavotto continued his hit parade through the sixth inning, launching a double off of the wall to lead off the inning. In the top of the sixth, the Pilots pushed themselves ahead 10-3, on three hits. 

In the bottom of the inning, the Beavers earned free bases by drawing multiple walks. With bases loaded, pitching mishaps from Pilot reliever Zach Johnson gave the Beavers some much needed life cutting into the lead making it 10-6. 

Extinguishing the Beaver spark in the sixth, the Pilots took back over offensively as Cooney sent a two-run home run shot over the national championship banners in left. A double down the right field line from Holcroft made the score 14-6. 

After recording a career-high hits last Sunday, Travis Bazzana managed to put two more runs on the board for the Beavers in the bottom of the eighth for his tenth homerun of the season (tied with Guerra for team high). 

Key Players

(Portland)

• C. Cooney (4-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI’s, 4 R)
• E. Scavotto (3-4, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 R)
• J. Holcroft (3-5, 2 2B, 4 RBIs, 2 R)
• B. Knight (3-5, 2B, 2 RBIs)
  • Win: K.Segel 

(OSU)

• M. McDowell (1-5, HR)
• M. Kane (1-3, RBI)
• T. Bazzana (1-3, HR, 2 BB)
  • Loss: A. Jiminez