First baseman Billy Becher went five for five with two home runs and four rbi, leading the Aggies to a 15-9 win over Portland in the Pilots' season opener at New Mexico.

NMSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning as Brad Ditter , Beau Blacken, Dustin Mote and Buck Barton each drove in runs.

Portland answered in the second inning after Brock Griffin singled, Joe Watson walked, and both were driven home on a double from Rob Seffens. From there Seffens scored on a wild pitch by Aggie starter Christian Jackson to cut the lead to 5-3. In the third, Griffin's single scored Kory Casto, and Portland scored three more runs in the fourth for a 7-5 lead, capped by Gus Little's first career homer, a two-run shot to left.

After giving up seven runs on nine hits, Jackson was relieved in the fifth by J.T. Severe. Severe would induce a double play with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning and keep the score at 7-5.

Keith Jenkins led off in the bottom of the fifth and doubled to center field. Matt Peters and Alex Borgo walked, and Ditter stepped up and tripled to right field to drive in three runs and give the Aggies the lead back at 8-7. Then Becher hit the first of his two home runs to give NMSU a 10-7 lead.

Portland would never again regain the lead, although it scored two runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 10-9. Another Seffens double scored two runs for the Pilots after Severe gave up three hits in the seventh.

The Aggies answered the call again in the bottom of the seventh as Becher stepped up and hit his second home run of the night, driving in Ditter who had walked. Chris Ewen scored the last run of the inning after Jenkins knocked him home on a single to right field giving the Aggies a 13-9 lead.

The Aggies added some insurance in the eighth when Hal Bisnett hit a two-run homer to left driving in Borgo who had singled to left field.

Severe (2-0) earned the win, giving up only two runs on four hits in 4.2 innings, while Portland reliever Trent Kristjanson (0-1) was given the loss, allowing five runs on three hits in 1.1 innings.

Portland, which struck out 11 times, twice left the bases loaded. Griffin and Seffens each had three hits for Portland, and Watson and Travis Vetters added two hits each.

The Pilots and Aggies continue the three-game series on Saturday at 1 p.m.