SAN DIEGO, CA- The Portland Pilots pushed across the winning run on an error by San Diego first baseman Jason Marian with two outs in the eighth inning to take game one of a critical West Coast Conference from USD 4-3. Portland?s Eric Hull threw two scoreless innings in relief of Pilot starter Steve Chamberlain to close the door on San Diego (35-19, 17-11 WCC).

Portland's Trevor Hahn led off the game with a double to left field beginning a first inning rally that saw the Portland (22-23, 14-11 WCC) take an early 2-0 lead. USD answered back with three first inning runs of their own, highlighted by a leadoff home run by Torero second baseman Mike McCoy.

After the five-run first, neither team would pose a threat offensively over the next six innings and the score would remain at 3-2 until the top of the eighth. USD starter Tom Caple (8-4, 3.86 ERA) was chased from the game after Portland?s Travis Hanson and Kory Lunde began the eighth inning with back-to-back singles. With the bases loaded and no outs, Torero reliever Mike Oseguera forced Pilot Brock Griffin to ground into a run scoring double play. With the score tied at three with two outs and Lunde on third, Joe Watson would hit a ground ball through the legs of Marian at first, allowing Portland a 4-3 lead.

Portland?s Trevor Hahn finished the day 3-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 21 gasmes. Matt Allen was 2-for-5 with a triple and an RBI. USD saw no players record more than one hit on the day and now will need to win both remaining games with the Pilots to clinch the West Coast Conference West Division.

The two teams are set to play on both Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 PM at USD?s Cunningham Stadium.