SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Portland loaded the bases and scored one in the top of the ninth inning, but for the second straight game the No. 25 San Diego Toreros escaped with the win, this time defeating the Pilots 2-1 on Saturday night at Fowler Park. Both San Diego runs came in the first inning as the Portland pitching did well to limit the Toreros' opportunities.
 
Entering the final frame down 2-0, the first three Portland (2-15, 0-2 WCC) batters reached base, courtesy two errors and an infield single by Ryan Kim. San Diego reliever Troy Conyers then recorded a strike out before Matt Kelly drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
Tate Budnick was the next hitter from Portland with runners on first and second, but Conyers sealed the win when he induced a game-ending fly out to right field, handing the Toreros (12-4, 2-0 WCC) their second straight close win.
 
Portland starter Corbin Powers (0-2) had perhaps his best outing as a Pilot, allowing just three hits in 6.0 innings. He struck out two, and the Toreros scored their only runs in the opening inning on a two-run double from Roman Garcia.
 
Portland relievers Camden Muller, Jake Hawken and Marty Luckenbach combined to hold the Toreros scoreless during the final two innings.
 
San Diego's freshman lefty Chris Murphy (1-0) was solid in 7.0 scoreless innings on the hill, fanning nine while yielding only two hits. Conyers notches his sixth save on the year with 1.2 innings of work, and Jonathan Teaney tossed just a third of an inning.
 
Neither team could produce much offense as both the Pilots and Toreros finished with four hits, but Portland did load the bases in the eighth inning as well.
 
Next up is the series finale, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.