SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- After Cody Hawken homered in the top of the eighth inning to give the Pilots the lead, the Santa Clara Broncos tied the score with a run in the ninth before winning it in the 10th to escape with a 5-4 victory over Portland on Sunday at Stephen Schott Stadium, concluding the three-game WCC series.

The Broncos' game-tying run in the ninth came after Portland's Marty Luckenbach had retired the first two batters. The righty then induced a soft blooper off the bat of Matt Smithwick and it appeared the Pilots would claim the win. But the ball somehow dropped in the middle of the Portland infield, and Smithwick, who never stopped running, ended up on second base.

The next batter was Kert Woods, and he provided the game-tying RBI with a single to center field, knotting the score at 4-4 and sending it to extras.

The Broncos then retired the Pilots in order in the top of the 10th before loading the bases with no outs in the home half of the inning. Portland (17-32, 3-21 WCC) did record one out before Stevie Berman won it with a run-scoring single up the middle.

The loss overshadows a resilient effort from the Pilots, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the score with a three-run sixth inning. After the Pilots loaded the bases, both Kevin Farley and Michael Forgione drew walks, with each free pass forcing in a run. Hawken was then hit by a pitch, and just like that the game was tied.

That is until Hawken stepped to the plate in the eighth and promptly left the yard with a solo homer over the left field wall. It's the third home run of the year for the freshman, who recently returned to the line-up from an injury.

Luckenbach (3-2) takes the hard-luck loss after working 4.1 innings of relief. He scattered six hits and struck out three. Starter Kevin Baker worked 5.0 innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits. Baker fanned six before giving way to Luckenbach.

Santa Clara (23-26, 10-14 WCC) reliever Max Kuhns (1-3) was the fourth pitcher for the Broncos on the afternoon, and he picks up the win after throwing 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.

The Pilots next travel to Eugene, Ore., to face the Oregon Ducks at PK Park in their final non-conference action this season on Tuesday. The Pilots and Ducks will conclude a game that was suspended earlier this season before playing their regular scheduled contest.