The Holy Cross baseball team lost to the University of Portland 15-3 in a seven-inning game on Thursday, March 5. The game marked the start of their series in Portland, Oregon. With this result, Holy Cross’s record moved to 4-7 for the season, while Portland improved to 5-6.
Senior Jaden Wywoda started on the mound for Holy Cross and was charged with the loss after pitching 3.1 innings and allowing eight earned runs on nine hits. He walked two batters and did not record a strikeout. For Portland, Carter Gaston earned the win by pitching five scoreless innings, giving up five hits, walking one batter, and striking out three.
Out of the bullpen for Holy Cross, senior Dan Mateffy threw 2.1 innings without allowing a run and struck out two batters. Callum Young pitched one inning in relief and allowed one hit but no runs.
At the plate for Holy Cross, sophomore Nick Spaner went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while junior Gianni Royer also had two hits in as many at-bats. Junior Van Coughlin hit a double, and sophomore Nick Andersen contributed an RBI single.
For Portland, Brady Bean went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Dakota Chun added a double among his two hits and drove in three runs. Leo Cote was perfect at the plate with two hits including a home run, scoring twice and tallying three RBIs. Cody Nitowitz went 2-for-2 with a triple, scoring three times and driving in three more runs.
Portland took control early with a bases-clearing double in the second inning to go up 3-0. Royer made two diving catches that helped limit further damage during that frame. In the fourth inning, Portland broke open the game with a two-run homer that sparked a 12-run rally to make it 15-0.
Holy Cross scored its only runs in the top of the seventh inning after four consecutive walks forced in one run. Two bases-loaded singles brought home two more before Portland ended the threat with another strikeout.
The series between Holy Cross and Portland continues on Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m. ET.
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