CORVALLIS, Ore. – Portland overcame a three-run first inning deficit, but Oregon State scored three unanswered runs to earn a 6-4 win at Coleman Field on Tuesday. The Pilots (1-2) stranded 12 runners for the game, leaving the bases loaded in both the fourth and sixth innings. The Beavers (4-1) gained a 13-7 edge in hits and had four scoreless innings of relief from their bullpen to overcome a pair of costly errors.

OSU hitters led off with three consecutive infield singles and were plated by a bases-clearing double from leftfielder Mike Lissman with nobody out. Portland sophomore starter Given Kutz controlled the damage by forcing a groundout to first and a double play after a walk.

Beavers’ starter Dallas Buck seemed to be in cruise control early, striking out the first five batters of the game, but the Pilots were able to score in the top of the third on an RBI-single by leftfielder Nik Kosach, making it 3-1.

Portland would load the bases in each of the next three innings, coming up empty in the fourth and sixth, while taking the lead with three in the fifth. A pair of Beaver errors, a hit batsman and a dropped third strike aided the Pilots to a 4-3 lead. Junior first baseman Matthew Peters tallied an RBI-single and sophomores Adam Kerr and Justin Ehlers drove in a runs on consecutive groundouts. Ehlers was the only Pilot batter with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4.

OSU scored one run in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to gain a 6-4 lead and the Beavers’ bullpen held on for the win. OSU reliever Nate Fogle (1-1) pitched one inning to earn the win and Kevin Gunderson went the final three frames without allowing a hit to record the save.

Pilot southpaw Chris Siegfried (0-1) was credited with the loss, allowing two runs on four hits in three innings. Josh Roberts pitched the final two innings for Portland and gave up one run on three hits.

Buck finished with nine strikeouts in five innings of work. He allowed five hits and four runs, only three being earned. Kutz tossed three innings, allowing three runs and six hits with two strikeouts.

“I was pleased with our performance today,” Portland head coach Chris Sperry said. “It was disappointing to lose since we played well enough to win, but we showed a lot of patience early in the game against one of the top pitchers throughout the entire West Coast in Dallas Buck.”

OSU outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury was 4-for-5 with two runs and Lissman finished 2-for-4 with four RBI.

Peters and senior third baseman Jason Krohn both have hits in all three games to open the season for the Pilots.

Portland next travels to Pasco, Wash. this weekend for a four-game series against the Washington State Cougars.

“I’m excited about what I have seen so far,” noted Sperry. “I thought we have played very well against some tough competition so far this season, and I can see that our players are very excited as well. Now we have to take care of business against Washington State.”