PORTLAND, Ore. --- Freshman Sean Nicol (pictured) went 3 for 5 at the plate with three RBI’s as the Portland Pilots defeated the Concordia Cavaliers 8-1 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. It’s the third straight win for the Pilots, who improve to 6-13 overall.

Concordia, an NAIA school, drops to 10-11.

Five Pilots had at least two hits as Portland totaled 13 for the game. Concordia had eight hits.

UP starter Ari Ronick (1-2) pitched six scoreless innings, while scattering five hits to pick up his first win of the season. Relievers Sean Sargent and Austin Dirkx then held the Cavalier bats in check to close out the win. Dirkx struck out four and didn’t allow a hit or a run in 2.0 innings of work.

Concordia starter Billy Burbank, who gave up one run on six hits in 3.0 innings, was saddled with the loss.

Nicol continued his torrid hitting at the plate for the Pilots with three hits. He also scored a run and made six plays at second base without an error. Portland didn’t commit an error for the game.

Sophomore Cory Wiltshire was 2 for 2 with two runs, while senior Matthew Peters was 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Junior Jesse Rodgers and sophomore Danny Meier were also 2 for 4 at the plate.

Portland opened the scoring with a run in the third and fourth innings. With two outs in the third, sophomore Pat Geraghty scored Nicol with a line drive to center field. Then in the fourth, junior Justin Ehlers brought home Peters on a fielder’s choice to first base.

The Pilots added two more in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead. With two outs, the Pilots loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. Nicol then picked up two RBI’s with a single hit hard up the middle.

After Concordia plated its only run in the top off the seventh off of Sargent, the Pilots responded with four more in the bottom half of the inning. Portland got the first run when Andrew Wrisley scored from second after a ball hit by senior Travis Vetters got past both the third baseman and the left fielder. Both fielders were charged with an error. Matthew Peters then knocked in Vetters with a double to deep right-center field, before two more Portland runs scored on a CU error. Only one of the four runs scored during the inning was earned.

After opening the season with 18 straight road games, Portland remains at Joe Etzel Field for a three-game series this weekend against UC Davis beginning with a 2 p.m. game on Friday. The teams then square off at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Livestats and a live audio broadcast for each game will be available at portlandpilots.com.