SPOKANE, Wash. - Eric Hull's squeeze bunt with runners on second and third scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the eighth inning as Portland (12-15, 6-4 WCC) defeated Gonzaga (16-15, 5-5 WCC), 2-1, on Friday afternoon at August/A.R.T. Stadium. The two teams will continue the West Coast Conference series with single games on Saturday and Sunday.

Gonzaga scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning as Jeff Culpepper singled up the middle and advanced to second on a walk by Sam Hess. Garth Blumberg then singled through the right side of the infield to score Culpepper from second and give the Zags a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs had a chance to increase the lead in the third inning as Kevin Richardson singled to left. Culpepper then laced a double into the right field corner, but Richardson was held half way between second and third as the throw came in. Right fielder Matt Allen's throw was bobbled in the relay home by Matt Hollod, but Richardson had already turned back to third.

Richardson and Culpepper were both stranded in the inning as Portland starter Steve Chamberlain (4-1) worked out of the jam. Chamberlain would work eight innings allowing seven hits and striking out four.

Portland knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the seventh as Allen singled to right field off the glove of a diving Culpepper. Allen would advance to second on a ground out and take third on a wild pitch before scoring on a shallow hit to center by Hollod.

In the eighth inning Joe Watson was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count to reach first with one out. Trevor Hahn then doubled off the right field fence to set the table for Hull's squeeze bunt. Gonzaga starter Ed Clelland would field the ball and his only play was to toss Hull out at first. He would strand Hahn at third base to give the Bulldogs a chance to tie the game in their final two at-bats. Clelland (3-3) pitched a complete game allowing seven hits and striking out four.

Hull would also be the hero on the mound for the Pilots as he struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season. Hahn led Portland with a 3-for-4 afternoon while Culpepper was 2-for-4 for Gonzaga. Nate Gold singled to left field in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.