HILLSBORO, Ore. --- With the Pilots trailing by one and down to their final out, Caleb Whalen came through with a double to the right-center gap, but CSUN sent a perfect relay throw to home plate to just get Michael Forgione and seal a 2-1 win for the Matadors at Ron Tonkin Field on Friday night. Forgione had previously kept the inning going with a two-out, infield single.
 
The dramatic finish gives CSUN's (20-4) Kenny Rosenberg the complete-game win, as the lefty starter was masterful on the mound.
 
The Pilots (12-11) got on the board first in the bottom of the second after Cooper Hummel led off the inning with a line drive single to right field. Ryan Barr followed with a base hit to left, and the Pilots had two on with no outs. Kevin Farley then advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Kevin Wade drove in the game's first run with a ground out to second base.
 
Portland starter Davis Tominaga was cruising early on, but the Matadors (20-4) caught a few breaks in the top of the fourth inning to even the score. First a shallow blooper to left, which fell in the middle of a trio of Pilots who all lost it in the early evening sky, resulted in a one-out double for Branden Berry. A few batters later, Nolan Bumstead hit a slow grounder that snuck through the left side of the infield, allowing Berry to score and tie the game 1-1.
 
And then in the fifth, the Matadors claimed the lead, courtesy a soft line drive to center field. With two outs and runners on the corners, Berry came through again with the base hit that scored Bobby Schuman and gave CSUN a slim 2-1 lead.
 
And that one-run cushion proved to be enough as Rosenberg (4-0) settled down after that second inning and was nearly flawless the rest of the way. His final line included just the one run on four hits in 9.0 innings. He had nine K's and zero walks.
 
Tominaga (2-4) takes the loss after a decent showing on the mound. He surrendered both runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out five. Relievers Cameron Richman, Cole Doherty and Jake Hawken continued Portland's solid relief pitching so far this series, holding the Matadors scoreless during the game's final 3.2 innings.
 
The Pilots and Matadors now return to The Bluff to conclude their four-game series with the finale tomorrow. First pitch at Joe Etzel Field is set for 12 p.m., and the Pilots will look to earn a split in the series after both teams picked up a win during Thursday's double header.