DALLAS, Texas --- The Portland Pilots overcame an early deficit to take the lead against Dallas Baptist, but the Patriots tied it and then won 9-8 after scoring on a balk in the 15th inning of the season-opener for both teams on a cold and blustery day.

The Pilots trailed 4-0 after the first inning, before scoring the game’s next seven runs to take the lead. DBU scored twice in the sixth and Pilots added one in the ninth. The Patriots then scored two in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.

The game was suppose to be the first half of a double header, but the second game was rescheduled for Monday due to the weather conditions. The schools will play a double dip Monday, before wrapping up the four-game series with a game on Tuesday.

The Pilots (0-1, 0-0 WCC) muscled out 17 hits on the day, getting four from senior left fielder Justin Pierce (pictured), who also had two RBI’s in six at-bats. Freshman designated hitter Chase Powell went 3 for 6 with an RBI. Junior second baseman Andrew Wrisley knocked in a pair, as did senior catcher Nik Kosach.

Sean Sargent (0-1) went an inning and a third to pick up the loss.

Senior right fielder Drew Holder went 3 for 6 with 2 RBI’s for Dallas Baptist (1-0), who finished with 15 hits as a team. Brice Wells pitched three innings of no-hit ball to pick up the win for the Patriots.

Things looked grim for the Pilots in the first inning as Dallas Baptist scored four to take the early lead. Starting pitcher Ari Ronick then settled down, not allowing another DBU run. Ronick scattered seven hits in 5.2 innings of work.

Portland got on the board in the second after junior first baseman James Allan got hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a balk. Powell then brought him home with a single.

UP got two more runs in the in the fourth on three straight doubles from Pierce, Kosach and sophomore third baseman Danny Meier.

Portland then chased DBU starting pitcher Randall Taylor with four runs in the fifth inning. The Pilots led off the inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Pierce then made it four straight singles as he brought in senior right fielder Matthew Peters. Kosach then scored Allan on a groundout to first. A couple of batters later, Wrisley knocked in two with another single to make it a 7-4 Pilots lead.

After Dallas Baptist scored twice in the sixth, the Pilots got their final run on another RBI single from Pierce to make it 8-6 heading to the bottom of the ninth. With two outs in the ninth, the Patriots’ Matt Tucker drove in Drew Holder, who had been hit by a pitch, and reached base on an error. Will Stamp then singled home Tucker to tie the game. Both runs scored off of Portland’s junior pitcher Austin Dirkx were unearned.

Neither team threatened to score until the 13th when DBU loaded the bases with one out. UP hurler Josh Roberts induced a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.

Evan Bigley led off the bottom of the 15th with a single for the Patriots. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Bigley went to third on a single by Austin Krum. Bigley then scored the winning run on a balk.

Monday’s double header is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (PST).