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PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland starter Matt McCallister was solid on the mound, reliever Kody Watts registered his second save of the weekend and Caleb Whalen’s solo home run in the sixth inning proved to be the difference as the Pilots finished off a three-game sweep of the Loyola Marymount Lions with a 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots improve to 16-28 overall with the win, while moving to 8-10 in the West Coast Conference.
 
After surrendering a run to the Lions (21-22, 9-9 WCC) in the top of the second inning, McCallister (2-4) was able to find his rhythm and kept the Lions off balance for the rest of the way. At one point, the senior right-hander retired 14 straight batters between the third and eighth innings.
 
The Pilots provided McCallister with the tying run in the bottom of the third inning. After Portland loaded the bases, Ben Grubb drew a walk from LMU starter Patrick McGrath to force in Beau Fraser. McGrath then induced an inning-ending fly out from Brian Frattali keeping the score at 1-1.
 
And then in the sixth, Whalen drilled a one-out solo home run deep over the fence in left field to hand the Pilots the 2-1 lead. It’s the first homer this season for Whalen.
 
McCallister came across a bit of trouble in the eighth when the Lions were able to get two runners on with two outs. Enter Watts, who ended the inning with a fly out.
 
Watts did allow a two-out single in the top of the ninth inning, but the sophomore righty was able to secure his second save of the season with a ground out off the bat of Matt Lowenstein. Watts also picked up a save during Portland’s 8-3 win on Friday.
 
McCallister’s final line included just four hits in 7.2 innings. He fanned six and walked just two.
 
McGrath (3-2) threw 7.0 innings, allowing Portland’s two runs on seven hits and the one walk. He struck out seven. Relievers Carlos Fuentes and Brandon Horth combined to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
The Pilots out-hit the Lions 8-5 and neither team committed an error. Seven different Pilots recorded at least one hit, including Jeff Melby who has reached base safely in 23 straight games. Melby also has at least one hit in 22 of his last 23 games.
 
The Pilots next take a week off for final exams and graduation before hosting the Washington State Cougars for a non-conference game on Monday, May 6 at Joe Etzel Field.