March 17, 2018 Final Stats
PORTLAND, Ore. - The tables turned Saturday, as the Saint Mary's baseball team took its turn scoring plenty of early runs and riding them to a 6-2 victory, evening its West Coast Conference series against Portland at Joe Etzel Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Gaels (10-6, 1-1 WCC) scored five times in the first three innings Saturday to stake themselves to an early 5-0 lead. Portland (7-12, 1-1 WCC) won game one Friday after it scored six runs in the first three frames. Edward Haus' first-inning RBI single made it 1-0, and Kevin Milam cleared the bases with a double to the center field wall in the second, making it 4-0.
- Joe Vranesh hit a towering solo home run to left-center field in the fifth that made it 6-0. It was his second home run of the season and one of his team-leading three hits on the day. Vranesh scored twice and also had a stolen base in the game.
- Milam's three-run double in the second inning was him supporting himself on the mound. Milam (3-0) threw seven shutout innings Saturday, striking out seven and scattering four hits as the Gaels improved to 4-0 when he is the starting pitcher. Michael Hobbs threw a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout to close out the game after Portland picked up two runs in the eighth.
- Portland's Tate Budnick struck out 10 in five innings of work, but it was after UP starter Corbin Powers had given up five runs in 3 2/3 innings. Budnick gave up just one run on two hits, only walking one.
NUMBERS TO KNOW - 3: Vranesh had three hits on the day to lead all players. It was a season high for Vranesh and tied his career high of three hits in a game, done three other times last season.
- 20 2/3: Milam's seven shutout frames extended his shutout innings streak to 20 2/3. His streak spans three consecutive scoreless outings and goes back to his Feb. 24 start at Arizona State.
- 34: Milam also extended his reached base streak to 34 games, dating back to the last 18 games of 2017 and all 16 games of this season. He is currently on an eight-game hit streak as well.
COMING UP - Sunday's series finale is scheduled for noon. Left-hander Ken Waldichuk (3-1) is slated to face Portland righty Camden Muller. Fans can find all live coverage links on SMCGaels.com.
