PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Saint Mary’s Gaels used an eight-run second inning and a six-run ninth to power their way past the Portland Pilots 16-3 in a West Coast Conference baseball game Friday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. With a stiff wind blowing towards out left-center field, Joel Staples and Sam Carter each hit two home runs for the Gaels. Portland junior Andrew Wrisley had three hits and two RBI’s for the Pilots.

Portland drops its fourth straight game to fall to 12-25 overall and 2-8 in the WCC. Saint Mary’s wins its third straight to improve to 21-16 and 6-4 in the conference.

After a scoreless first inning, the Gaels busted out for eight runs in the top of the second. The Gaels followed a lead-off walk with four straight singles to take a 3-0 advantage. After Portland starter Ari Ronick (3-4) struck out Adam Hicks looking, Eric Cattoni knocked in the fourth run on a fielder’s choice. Then with two outs, Ronick gave up back-to-back home runs to Staples and Carter. Staples’ was a two-run shot to center field, while Carter hit a solo home run to left.

Reliever Joe Jones then gave up consecutive doubles as the Gaels made it 8-0. Ronick lasted 1.2 innings in the loss.

Portland used five pitchers on the day, while Saint Mary’s countered with three. SMC starter Joel Fountain (7-3) gave up three runs on nine Portland hits in 7.0 innings. Fountain also struck out seven, before giving way to relievers Justin Sloan and Dan Lewis, who each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

After Staples made it 9-0 with a solo home run in the fourth inning, the Pilots scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, freshman Sean Nicol drew a walk. Sophomore Cory Wiltshire, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday, brought Nicol all the way around with a triple to the right field corner. It’s Wiltshire’s second three-bagger this season.

Wrisley, who replaced sophomore Danny Meier at third base in the third inning, followed Wiltshire with his second home run of the season. Wrisley’s blast was a two-run shot that sailed high over the left field wall.

Saint Mary’s added another run in the seventh, on a Carter solo home run, before tacking on six more on four hits in the ninth. Orben Frederick, Mike Harris, Adam Hicks, Cattoni, Staples and Carter each had an RBI during the inning.

All nine starters got hits for Saint Mary’s, who finished with 16 for the game. Carter and Delaney Gallagher each tallied six, while Staples finished with four RBI’s.

Wrisley led the way for Portland with his three hits in three at-bats. He also walked, knocked in two and scored once. Senior Travis Vetters extended his hitting streak to eight games with a pair of hits, while senior Matthew Peters made it nine straight games with a hit, as he went 1-for-4. Wiltshire added a double to finish 2-for-3. UP totaled 11 hits for the game.

Neither team committed an error.

The Pilots and Gaels are slated to play the second game of the three-game set on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field.