March 16, 2007

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. - The University of Utah baseball team suffered an 8-0 loss at Portland University Friday evening at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots' Given Kutz went the distance to pick up the shutout victory.

Kutz struck out 14 and did not allow a base on balls in nine innings of work for Portland (10-7). The Pilots used a four-run third and a three-run fourth to blow the game open.

Portland got a two-run double and a two-run single in the third inning to jump on top 4-0 against Utah starter Lucas Trinnaman. In the third, Justin Pierce did most of the damage, ripping a two-run home run. One unearned run later, Trinnaman gave way to Ute reliever Kerr Foster.

Portland added a single run in the eighth inning for good measure to account for the final tally.

Utah banged out nine hits in the game, while Portland had 10. But the Utes were unable to push a run across against Kutz. Utah had two runners in scoring position in the third, but couldn't plate a run. The Utes also had the bases loaded in the eighth and couldn't light the scoreboard. Utah's third, fourth and fifth hitters in the lineup were a combined 1-for-12 in the game.

Portland catcher Cory Wiltshire was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Pilots. Leadoff hitter Nate Burnham was 3-for-4 for Utah.

Kutz pushed his record to 3-2 with the win. Trinnaman fell to 0-3. He tossed 3 1/3 innins, allowing seven hits and seven runs (five earned runs). Foster finished the game for the Utes, going 4 2/3 innings. He allowed just one unearned run on three hits, while striking out four and walking one.

Game two of the three-game series is slated for 1 p.m. PDT Saturday.

-UU-