HILLSBORO, Ore. --- The No. 6 Oregon State Beavers jumped ahead early before overcoming the Portland Pilots 9-2 on a warm Tuesday night in front pf a capacity crowd at Ron Tonkin Field. Beau Brundage, who entered the night as the top hitter in the West Coast Conference, finished with three hits to lead the Pilots.
 
The Beavers (30-6) scored a run during each the first, second, and third innings to surge ahead 3-0. Steven Kwan provided the first run of the game when he left the yard with a lead-off homer in the top of the first. Kwan also drove in the run in the second inning with a single, and Adley Rutschman collected the RBI in the third with a triple.
 
OSU added two more runs in the fifth inning and another in the sixth to lead 6-0.
 
The Pilots (15-24) got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after Brundage led off with a hard-hit single to center field. Daniel Lopez was then hit by a pitch, and Cody Hawken earned a walk to load the bases. Chad Stevens followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that easily scored Brundage.
 
A few pitches later Lopez scored Portland's second run courtesy a wild pitch, but OSU reliever Brandon Eisert ended the inning with two K's.
 
The Beavs got one back in the top of the seventh with a triple and a bunt, but the Pilots showed off some defense to end the inning. First catcher Hunter Montgomery threw out a would-be base stealer at second base. Then Matt Kelly ended the inning with a diving stop on a ball up the middle, which was followed by a perfect throw to first.
 
Brundage tallied his third hit of the night in the eighth inning and Hawken doubled to left field, but Eisert held the Pilots scoreless. OSU added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth.
 
The Pilots used six pitchers on the night, with the loss going to starter Joey Morris (1-2). He worked into the second inning, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks.
 
The Beavers countered with four pitchers, and starter Jordan Britton (2-0) earns the win.
 
Tomorrow the Pilots return to The Bluff to host the Oregon Ducks at Joe Etzel Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.