The pitching was good and the hits were solid.

The defense? Not so much.

Portage's Junior Legion team committed nine errors over the final three innings to erase an otherwise good outing in an 8-1 loss to Reedsburg on Monday at Bidwell Field.

All eight Reedsburg runs were unearned in a game that was tied at 0 heading into the fifth inning.

Jalen Walker took the loss for Portage despite striking out a game-high six batters and not allowing an earned run.

"We gave them 18 outs in the last three innings," Portage coach Jim Walker said. "Jalen threw well. He mixed it up, kept the ball down, kept them off stride. He threw a really nice game. Jared came in and threw strikes and the seventh inning should've been 1-2-3 and we had three consecutive errors."

Portage (2-11) trailed 3-1 and had bases loaded with one out in the fifth when Jared Walker's line drive was caught on the run by the right fielder.

"That might've been a game changer right there," Walker said. "We had scoring opportunities and we just didn't take advantage of it. And Reedsburg took advantage of every single one of our errors and that was the difference."

REEDSBURG 8, PORTAGE 1

Reedsburg 000 031 4 - 8 7 0

Portage 000 010 0 - 1 5 9

Pitchers - Ernstmeyer (W), Goodwick (5); Jalen. Walker (L), Jared. Walker (6). SO leaders - Jal. Walker 6, Ernstmeyer 5.

Leading hitters - R: Tillma 2x4.

-- Daily Register staff