PORTLAND, Ore. – Sunday's series finale in Portland was wet, wild, and a little weird for the Gaels in a 22-12 loss to the Pilots.
 
The game's first pitch was delayed by an hour to avoid weather interruptions, and though the umpires may have tried to let the second inning finish before pausing the game due to rain, it was an inning that wouldn't end for the Gaels.
 
Saint Mary's scored first again when Dalton Mashore singled up the middle to score Coleman Schmidt for an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
 
But sophomore starter Ryan Wiltse and the Gaels pitchers had some difficulty the bottom of the second inning that had to be at least partially due to the deluge of rain that came down during the frame. After getting the first batter to ground out, Wiltse allowed a single and a double to put runners on the corners.
 
A walk loaded the bases, followed by another walk, a hit by pitch, and two more walks before Connor Linchey came in from the bullpen with SMC down 4-0. Linchey threw a wild pitch and walked the next two batters to put the Pilots up 6-1. A single and a double followed for a 9-1 Portland lead, still in the second inning. Jack Snook came in and faced a similar fate, allowing three doubles that extended the Pilots lead to 14-1.
 
Coleman Schmidt hit his second home run of the season after Nick Mistone reached on an error in the top of the third, but Portland would get those two runs back in the bottom of the inning to lead 16-3.
 
Gavin Napier had an RBI ground out and Schmidt and Mashore again had RBI singles to get the Gaels within 10 at 16-6.
 
They found themselves down 22-7 in the ninth before another late rally courtesy of Riley Lamb, Hayden Driggs, Hunter Hirayama, Nathan Chong, and Blake McDonald driving in runs to cut it back to 10 with two outs before the 22-12 final.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will wrap up the season with a three-game set against CSUN. A single 3:00 p.m. game on Thursday, May 19 will be followed by a double header on Friday at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.