SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Portland's Turner Gill hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, but it wasn't enough as the San Francisco Dons defeated the Pilots 8-4 on Sunday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond. The blast is Gill's team-best eighth this season.
The homer came with the Pilots (7-31, 2-13 WCC) trailing 5-0. Michael Lucarelli had previously tripled and Cooper Hummel reached on an error before Gill drove a ball deep over the wall in right-center field, trimming the deficit to two runs.
The Dons (18-18, 11-4 WCC) got a run back in the sixth inning before the Pilots scored their final run in the top of the eighth. Lucarelli again reached base, this time with a single, and Hummel followed with a base hit of his own. Gill drew a walk to load the bases and Kevin Wade brought in a run on a fielder's choice. The Dons did well to escape further damage as Portland left two runners on base.
USF then scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth and retired the Pilots in order in the ninth.
Portland starter Jackson Lockwood (1-4) returned to the mound to pitch 4.0 innings. He yielded just two runs on six hits, while striking out one. Reliever Ryan Barr was touched for three runs on five hits in an inning and Carl Snaring pitched the final 3.0 innings.
USF starter Sam Granoff (3-2) lasted 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Sheldon Lee was replaced after not retiring a batter in the eighth and Logan West earns his fourth save of the year by pitching 2.0 flawless innings.
Gill was 2-for-3 on the afternoon, while Lucarelli finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. The Dons had six batters with two hits each and they out-hit Portland 14-7.
The Pilots next play a pair of non-conference games against their two in-state rivals. First comes a visit to Volcano Stadium in Keizer, Ore., on Tuesday to face the Oregon State Beavers at 6:30 p.m. The Oregon Ducks then return to Joe Etzel Field on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. game.
