PORTLAND, Ore. ---- Devin Kopas drove in three runs with three hits and the Pilots were solid out of the bullpen as Portland rallied past the Santa Clara Broncos to open a three-game West Coast Conference series with a 7-5 win on Friday night at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots fought back from an early four-run deficit en route to the win.
 
With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, it was a double from Ryan Hoogerwerf in that proved to be the game winner. With one out and Cody Hawken on first base, Hoogerwerf hammered a ball into the left field corner that allowed Hawken to come all the way around and cross home plate with the go-ahead run.
 
Devin Kopas then provided the insurance with an RBI double in the eighth to push the Portland (5-20, 1-6 WCC) lead to 7-5.
 
That was more than enough runs for Portland reliever Marty Luckenbach, who struck out two of the three batters he faced in the top of the ninth to notch is second save of the year.
 
Luckenbach had replaced Jordan Horak (1-5), who earns his first win this season. Horak struck out five in 2.2 innings of relief, and he surrendered just two hits.
 
The Pilots fell into an early hole as the visitors from Santa Clara (5-20, 1-3 WCC) scored one in the top of the first inning and three more in the second. Zach Walsh helped give the Broncos their 4-0 lead with a solo homer to lead off the second frame.
 
But the Pilots had an answer, and it began with three runs in the bottom of the third. The first run came in when Kevin Wade drew a walk with the bases loaded. Kopas then stepped to plate a drove a single into the gap in left-center field, bringing home two and making it a 4-3 game.
 
An inning later the comeback was complete when the Pilots scored the tying run without the benefit of getting a hit. Three walks loaded the bases, and Matt Kelly brought in Mike Hicks with a sacrifice fly to center field. Now with the score 4-4 and the bases still loaded, Santa Clara pitcher Grant Nechack avoided further damage with a clutch strike out, ending the threat.
 
The score remained 4-4 until the sixth inning when the Pilots claimed their first lead of the night. With Michael Forgione on third, Chris Arpan slapped a single to right field, handing the hosts a slight 5-4 edge.
 
But the lead was short-lived because in the top half of the seventh, Santa Clara caught a few breaks to even the score once again. Tyler Meditz produced the RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
Santa Clara's Grant Nechak (1-4) was the second of five pitchers used by the Broncos, and he's saddled with the loss after giving up two runs on two hits in 3.0 innings.
 
Portland starter Grady Miller went just 3.0 innings before giving way to the bullpen. Camden Muller worked 2.0 scoreless innings after spelling Miller to begin the top of the fourth. Muller fanned three.
 
The three-game WCC series between the Pilots and Broncos continues tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field.