PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots led for most of the night but still had to rally late to claim a 10-7 win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Friday night in the first night game in the history of Joe Etzel Field. Portland freshman Cody Hawken hit two home runs in his home collegiate debut.
The game began well for the Pilots (4-1), who jumped out to an early 5-2 lead. Hawken provided a spark when he crushed a ball over the fence in right-center field in the bottom of the second inning for his first career home run. The two-run shot capped a three-run inning for the Pilots.
Oakland (1-4), which scored a run in the top of the first on a Mike Brosseau solo homer, got a run back in the top of the third. But the Pilots immediately responded in the bottom of the inning, courtesy another long fly by Hawken.
This time the freshman outfielder hit a towering shot over to left field with a runner on, giving the Pilots a three-run lead.
The Golden Grizzlies scored a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to keep the Pilots within reach. Portland did score a run in the fifth to stay just ahead of Oakland, but the Pilots' luck ran out in the seventh when the Golden Grizzlies scored two to take the lead. Tyler Pagano brought home the tying run with a double, before eventually scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
Oakland's lead was short-lived as the Pilots answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Kevin Wade tied the game with an RBI ground out, and Barr came home on a throwing error after a double steal to give an 8-7 lead back to the Pilots.
Caleb Whalen provided the Pilots with a little insurance in the eighth when he drove in a run with a line drive to left field. Moments later the senior scored on a wild pitch to push Portland's lead to three runs.
The lead would stand as Portland closer Billy Sahlinger worked the final 1.2 innings to seal the win and notch his second save of the year. Hawken came through with the defensive play of the game as well when he threw out Ian Yetsko at second base with a throw from the base of the left field wall. Yetsko was trying to stretch a lead-off single in the top of the ninth into a double.
The Pilots used five pitchers on the night, and reliever Cole Doherty (1-1) claims the win after tossing an inning.
Lucas Scocchia (0-2) was the third of four Oakland pitchers, and he gets saddled with the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in 2.0 innings.
Hawken, Barr and Cooper Hummel each had two hits, and all three, along with Eric Sapp, scored two runs on the night.
The game was played through a persistent rain and the teams combined for 10 errors, with the Golden Grizzlies committing six. Oakland also held a slim 10-8 edge in hits.
The two teams will next play the second game of the four-game set on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Portland installed lights at the 28-year-old facility during the off-season as phase two of a long-term renovation project at the Pilots' home on The Bluff. Artificial turf replaced natural grass in 2014, and the University of Portland plans to replace the bleachers and press box with a new stadium
