TUCSON, Ariz. --- The Portland Pilots scored first, but Arizona had an answer and a five-run fourth inning helped the Wildcats claim a 9-4 series-opening win on Friday night at Hi Corbett Field. The two teams will next play tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.
 
It looked good early for the Pilots (4-13) as Caleb Whalen returned to the line-up and led off the game with a double. He then moved over to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Lucarelli before scoring on an RBI ground out by Tuner Gill. Whalen has sat out the past few weeks with an injury and his run gave Portland a 1-0 lead.
 
The Wildcats (13-4) responded with the tying run in the bottom of the first, two more in the second and the five-run fourth to take control of the game. Bobby Dalbec had the game-tying RBI in the first and Scott Kingery and Kevin Newman drove in the runs in the second.
 
Arizona then chased Portland starter Jackson Lockwood (1-2) during the fourth as the junior right-hander suffers his second loss of the season. He allowed eight runs on 12 hits in 3.2 innings and was followed by relievers Alex Fisher and Brandon Snyder.
 
Cody Hamlin (2-0) went the distance on the mound for the Wildcats, giving up the four runs on seven hits. He struck out four and walked one.
 
The Pilots did get a run back in the top of the fifth and two more in the sixth inning. Geoffrey Lee drove in the run in the fifth with a single and Gill and Kevin Farley recorded consecutive RBI doubles in the sixth.
 
Portland did collect four doubles on the night but was out-hit 16-7. Newman finished with four hits.
 
Portland and Arizona follow tomorrow's game with the series finale at 12 p.m. on Sunday.