PORTLAND, Ore. --- After UC Riverside claimed game one 6-1, the Highlanders rallied past the Portland Pilots to win the second game 8-4 in a non-conference baseball doubleheader played on Saturday afternoon at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Pilots did bring the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the ninth of the second game, but UCR reliever Jared Morton induced a game-ending ground out off the bat of Kevin Farley.
 
In that second game, the Pilots (0-3) led 3-1 before the Highlanders (3-0) scored seven straight runs to surge ahead. Portland tried to rally in the ninth and Davis Tominaga drove in a run with a single to make it 8-4, but that's when the Highlanders turned to Morton, who earned his first save of the season.
 
Farley was responsible for Portland's early lead, driving in one run with a double in the top of the first inning and another in the third with a base hit. Kevin Wade also knocked in a run in the third as the Pilots held a two-run lead.
 
The Highlanders, who scored an unearned run in both the first and fourth innings, took control of the game with three runs in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the eighth. Vince Fernandez had a two-run single in the seventh inning and Dante Chupek, Casey Henderson and Matt Contreras each claimed an RBI in the eighth.
 
Portland starting pitcher Cole Doherty struck out seven, walked two and allowed just two hits in his Pilot debut. He lasted 5.1 innings before giving way to the bullpen. Alex Fisher (0-1) earns the loss after yielding two runs on a hit and a walk in an inning of relief.
 
UC Riverside reliever Keaton Leach (1-0) earns the win after working an effective 5.2 innings. He did allow the RBI to Tominaga in the ninth.
 
Farley was 3-for-4 with two RBI's and two doubles, while Lucarelli went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
 
In game one, the Highlanders jumped out to a 5-0 lead with two runs in the bottom of the second and three more in the fifth to chase Portland starter Kurt Yinger. In that second inning, Contreras led off the frame with a triple that leftfielder Grant Taylor lost in the sun. Alex Rubanowitz then followed with an RBI double before trotting home on a sacrifice pop-out a few batters later.
 
In the fifth, the Highlanders led off the inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Fernandez then drove in two with a double to right field. Drake Zarate added an RBI single and the Pilots trailed 5-0.
 
Portland did get on the board in the seventh inning when Tominaga brought home Cody Lenahan, who had previously reached with a two-out double.
 
UCR added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Portland reliever Billy Sahlinger, who had replaced Yinger to begin the sixth.
 
Yinger (0-1) allowed the five runs on nine hits, while Sahlinger surrendered just the one run on three hits in 3.0 innings of work. Sahlinger fanned four and neither pitcher issued a walk.
 
UC Riverside starter Angel Landazuri (1-0) earns the win and was followed on the mound by three relievers, who combined to hold the Pilots scoreless in 2.1 innings. Landazuri gave up one run on five hits and a walk, and he K'd five.
 
The Pilots and Highlanders next conclude the four-game series with the finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.