SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- Freshman second baseman Sean Nicol hit a home run and scored twice in his first career start for Portland, but Sacramento State built an early lead and held on for a 7-5 win against the Pilots on the second day of the River City Classic at Hornet Field. Nicol’s home run was the first in his Pilot career, as Portland falls to 1-6 to open the season. Tournament co-host Sacramento State improves to 6-6.

Down 7-2 in the top of the ninth, the Pilots rallied to score three times and brought the tying run to the on-deck circle with two outs. With nobody on, senior outfielder Matthew Peter’s deep fly was caught at the wall for the final out. UP had scored on a Sacramento State error and a two-run home run from sophomore third baseman Danny Meier, his first long fly of the season, to make it 7-5.

Meier finished 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s and one run. Nicol went 2-3 with one RBI and two runs, while freshman first baseman Chase Powell and sophomore outfielder Cory Wiltshire also had two hits each. The Pilots had 10 hits for the game.

Sacramento State wasted little time scoring as the Hornets put up four in the bottom of the first inning. Two of the runs were unearned as the Pilots committed two errors during the inning. The Hornets also scored on a solo home run from Brian Blauser.

Down 4-0 in the top of the fifth, the Pilots got on the board with a two-out double from Meier. With Nicol on second, Meier sent one down the left field line to make it 4-1.

Nicol then hit his first home run this season, a solo shot, in the seventh to pull the Pilots within 5-2.

The Hornets responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

UP starter Sean Sargent (0-3) went five innings in the loss. The Pilots used four pitchers for the game.

Sacramento State starter Travis Kane (1-1) gave up nine hits in seven innings of work. He also struck out four and only gave up two runs.

Portland plays it final game of the River City Classic tomorrow morning against North Dakota State at 10 a.m. at Dobbins Stadium in Davis, Calif. The Pilots then play an exhibition game against British Columbia at Joe Etzel Field in Portland at 2 p.m. on Monday.