PORTLAND, Ore. --- The San Francisco Dons scored five runs between the fourth and sixth innings to pull away from the Portland Pilots and claim a 10-2 win to begin a three-game West Coast Conference series at Joe Etzel Field on Friday night. Kevin Farley had three hits for the Pilots, and Caleb Whalen returned from an injury to collect a pair of hits.
 
The Dons (18-29, 12-10 WCC) jumped out to an early lead in the first when Allen Smoot left the yard with a three-run homer to center field. The blast came with no outs, but Portland (15-28, 2-17 WCC) starter Jordan Horak did well to settle down and retire the next three batters in order, which included two strike outs.
 
The Pilots answered in the bottom half of the inning when Whalen returned to the line-up with a two-out single. It was Whalen's first at-bat since April 1 after the senior outfielder missed several games due to an injury. Ryan Barr then followed with a ball that was crushed to deep center field, bouncing off the wall. Barr ended up on third with a triple, and Whalen scored from first to make it a 3-1 game.
 
The game remained 3-1 until the top of the fourth when San Francisco's Aaron Ping hit a solo home run. An inning later, Brady Bate hit a two-run homer, and the Dons' lead had reached 6-1.
 
The Dons added two more runs in the eighth, and Portland's other run came in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Brian Pozos singled up the middle, which was followed by Farley's second double of the night, giving the Pilots runners on first and second. Then with two outs, Pozos trotted home on a wild pitch.
 
USF's Anthony Shew (4-6) worked 7.0 innings to earn the win, fanning eight while allowing seven hits. He was followed by two relievers.
 
Horak (1-6) lasted 5.0 innings, striking out six. He scattered eight hits before giving way to three Portland relievers.
 
The second game of this series is scheduled for tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field.