PROVO, Utah --- The Pilots hit four home runs, including two from Ryan Hoogerwerf, and the visitors seemingly had an answer for No. 18 BYU all game long, but in the end the Cougars survived the slugfest to outlast the Pilots 23-19 on Thursday night at Miller Park. Hoogerwerf went 4-for-5 with four RBI's and four runs scored, Dutton Elske was 4-for-6 with three RBI's, and Cody Hawken knocked in four runs with three hits. Mike Hicks added three hits and three runs.
 
The 42 combined runs are believed to be a new program record for the Pilots, who first started playing baseball back in 1923. The previous record of 39 combined runs came against Nevada in 1972.
 
The Pilots (10-35-1, 5-17 West Coast Conference) collected 21 hits, just missing a UP record, and the 18 runs are the most scored in a game for Portland since scoring 19 during a win over Buffalo in 2009. It's also believed to be the most runs scored ever during a loss for the Pilots.
 
The Cougars (30-15, 18-4 WCC), who sit in first place in the WCC and are one of the nation's top hitting teams, looked to run away from the Pilots with five runs in the bottom of the first inning. But the Pilots were up for the challenge, answering with a seven-run second inning.
 
The Pilots belted three home runs in the top of the second, with Kevin Wade, Elske and Hoogerwerf each leaving the yard. Hawken had two hits during the frame, and he also knocked in a pair to help the Pilots surge in front 7-5.
 
Portland scored seven more runs in the top of the third inning after BYU scored four in the second to surge back in front. The Pilots batted around for the second inning in a row, and Hoogerwerf went yard for the second inning in a row. Hawken added two more RBI's, and Elske drove in another run as the third ended with the Pilots back on top 14-9.
 
Again the Cougars had a quick response, scoring eight in the home half of the third to jump ahead 17-14.
 
The Pilots refused to go away, and a three-run top of the fifth leveled the score. Michael Forgione, Jason Rosen and Beau Brundage each claimed an RBI during the inning.
 
The sixth inning brought another BYU run, but the Pilots got it back in the seventh, tying the score one more time. Rosen was responsible for this tying run, sending a double into the left-center gap that scored Hoogerwerf to make it an 18-18 ballgame.
 
The home team then scored four in the bottom of the seventh and another in the eighth to take control of the game. Portland did add a run in the final frame, but the Cougars held on for the marathon win.
 
Every Portland player had at least one hit, and Brundage extends his career-best hitting streak to 10 games. Elske has homered in two straight games.
 
The two teams combined to use 11 pitchers on the night, with BYU's designated hitter Colton Shaver pitching an inning-and-a-third. It's the first collegiate appearance on the hill for Shaver, who finished with three RBI's. His teammate Bronson Larsen had five RBI's, coming on a double and a homer.
 
The loss went to Portland's Cameron Richman (0-1), who pitched 4.1 innings of relief, while BYU reliever Mason Marshall (3-2) picks up the win.
 
The second game of this three-game series is set for Friday night at 5 p.m. (Pacific).