LEWISTON, Idaho.- The Portland Pilots got home runs from Gustaf Little and Mike McRae, but it wasn’t enough as the Washington State Cougars (8-3) beat the Pilots, 9-4, at the Banana Belt Tournament in Lewiston, Idaho on Friday. The loss leaves Portland still searching for it’s first win of the season as the Pilots now sit at 0-9 overall.

Portland got off to a good start scoring the game’s first run in the top of the first. Little led the game off with a solo blast that cleared the left field fence. The Cougs responded in the bottom half getting a pair of runs off Portland’s Trent Kristjanson (0-2). Only one of the runs was earned as Washington State’s Justin Hart scored on an error by Pilot shortstop, Jesse Rodgers.

The Pilots tied it up in the fourth on a Mike McRae home run. The solo shot to left was McRae’s second big fly of the season. Again, the Cougars responded immediately as they took advantage of another Portland error. Brandon Reddinger led off the bottom of the fourth and reached first base safely on a throwing error by Portland third-baseman, Mike McRae. The Cougs then worked Reddinger around the bases as he eventually scored on a Kaeo Rubin single.

Things looked good for the Pilots in the top of the fifth as Portland put up a deuce to take the lead. Jesse Rodgers got the offense going with a one-out single to center field. Gustaf Little followed with a double to right, scoring Rodgers. Little then took third on a throwing error and scored on a double by Jeff Crinklaw. The three hits in the inning represented half of the Pilot hit output for the day as Portland finished with just six hits.

Kristjanson then held the Cougar bats silent until the sixth inning when the flood gates opened. Wazzu put up three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Kristjanson went six innings on the mound, giving up nine runs, seven earned, and scattered 10 hits. He struck out six and gave up four walks. Given Kutz came on in relief and pitched two innings of shutout ball. Kutz gave up two hits, struck out one and walked one.

Little led the Pilot offense with two hits and two RBI’s.

Portland has one more shot to pick up a ‘W’ at the Banana Belt Tournament as the Pilots next face Gonzaga on Sunday, Mar. 6 in a non-conference match-up.