The Oregon baseball team dropped Tuesday’s game to the Portland Pilots 3-2 in Portland, Oregon.
The Oregon (26-18, 9-12 Pac-12) bats were held silent until the eighth inning. Facing a three-run deficit, Spencer Steer scored on a Matthew Dyer ground out. Then, Tim Susnara hit an RBI single to left field to cut the Pilot lead to one. The Ducks were in position to tie the game in the ninth when Taylor Travess walked to lead off the inning. He advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt; however, Kyle Kasser lined out, and Jake Bennett grounded out to end the game.
The Pilots took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a Dutton Elske two-run home run to left center field. They added one run to their lead in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Matt Kelly that ended up being the winning run.
The Ducks utilized eight pitchers Tuesday against the Pilots. It’s a mid-week game, and a series against  No. 1 Oregon State is next, so sparing arms is important. Only starting pitcher Isaiah Carranza pitched more than one inning in the game, and he pitched two.
Corbin Powers picked up his first win of the season for the Pilots. He held the Ducks scoreless through five innings, giving up five hits and striking out four.
Tuesday’s game wrapped up a three-game series between the Ducks and Pilots this season. The two teams met for two additional one-game series earlier this season. The Ducks won both.
The Ducks get one day off before beginning a three-game series at PK Park against Oregon State. David Peterson will get the ball for the Ducks to start the series on Thursday.
Follow Zak Laster on Twitter @zlast3445