SANTA CLARA, Calif.- The Portland Pilots were on the short end of the stick in a slugfest against the Santa Clara Broncos, dropping a 13-11 decision as all 24 runs were scored in the first six innings. The Pilots (3-24, 0-8 WCC) and freshman starter Sean Sargent allowed seven runs in the first inning, but responded with four in the second and five more in the fifth to make the game interesting. Portland second baseman Gustaf Little tallied a career-high five RBI in the leadoff spot, but the Broncos (16-15, 5-3 WCC) answered with four players driving in two or more runs on the day.

A distastrous first inning nearly doomed Portland as the first five Bronco batters got hits off Sargent. The freshman managed a flyout for the first out of the inning then with runners on first and third, fielded a squeeze bunt attempt from David Hoffmire and threw out Nic Crosta at home. The bottom of the SCU order did its part as Eric Newton, the ninth batter of the frame, hit a two-out, two-run double to left. Robert Perry, who started the onslaught with a leadoff single, notched his second hit of the inning with an RBI single giving SCU a 7-0 lead.

The persistent Pilots scored four runs in the second with a two-out rally of their own. With the bases loaded, Little brought home all three runners on his fifth double of the season. Little would then score on an error, making it 7-4 heading to the bottom half of the second inning.

Sargent again ran into trouble as SCU scrapped three more runs in the second, forcing Pilot head coach Chris Sperry to the bullpen early. Hoffmire’s two-run single marked the end of Sargent’s day, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits in 1.2 innings of work. Sophomore right-hander Stephen Ball came on and would toss the final 6.1 innings, scattering three runs on five hits while striking out three.

The teams each manufactured a run in the third inning and the Broncos got another in the fourth for a comfortable 12-5 lead heading into the fifth, but Portland clawed back into it with a five-spot in the inning.

Travis Vetters led it off with a single and the next five Pilots reached base, running SCU reliever Bryan Fleming from the contest without recording an out. Patrick McBride spelled Fleming with the bases loaded and was promptly greeted by Colton Homme with a two-run single to right field. Fleming controlled the damage by forcing Billy Krause to fly out and striking out Jesse Rodgers. Little clutched up again with another two-out base knock, this time bringing home Homme and Rhett Parker, cutting the lead down to 12-10.

The Pilots sliced the deficit in half the following inning as Jeffrey Crinklaw led off with his team-leading 11th double of the year and would later score on a throwing error by SCU pitcher Thomas Van Buskirk. Ryan Chiarelli got the run back for the Broncos with an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth for the final score of the day.

Little was 2-for-5 with a walk, run scored and the noted five RBI. Homme went 2-for-4 with two runs and drove in three more, while Joe Watson and Jeffrey Crinklaw both had two hits and scored two runs for Portland. Sargent is now 1-4 on the season after recording the loss.

Chiarelli had four hits, scored two runs and drove in two more to lead Santa Clara. Perry had three knocks and Eric Newton drove in three runs in the ninth spot of the order. Van Buskirk (3-1) tossed 3.1 innings of relief to earn the win, while Anthony Rea shut the door in the ninth for his conference-leading ninth save of the season.

The Pilots and Broncos conclude their three-game WCC series on Sunday at 1 p.m.