PROVO, Utah --- Portland freshman Ryan Kim belted his first career home run, but the Brigham Young Cougars pulled away from the Pilots to claim a 16-3 win the West Coast Conference series finale played on a breezy Saturday afternoon at Miller Park. The win gives the three-game series to the Cougars, who sit on top of the league standings.
 
BYU (32-15, 20-4 WCC) took advantage of some early Portland (10-37-1, 5-19 WCC) errors to build an 8-0 lead during the first five innings. Only two of the runs was earned, and the Pilots tried to mount a comeback in the top of the sixth. That's when Kim led off the frame with a homer to right field to get the visitors on the board.
 
Michael Forgione followed the Kim home run with a triple to left field, and Tate Budnick drove in the second run of the inning with a double to the right field corner. A few batters later, an RBI groundout from Matt Kelly pulled the Pilots within five.
 
But that's as close as Portland would get as the Cougars put the game out of reach with eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Starter Kevin Baker (3-6) was the first of five Portland pitchers on the day, and he's saddled with the loss, despite allowing just one earned run in 4.0 innings. He did scatter seven hits, while striking out three.
 
Hayden Rogers (7-1) limited the Pilots to five hits in 6.1 innings, and he was charged with all three of Portland's runs. Relievers Riley Gates and Keaton Cenatiempo combined to hold the Pilots scoreless during the final 2.2 innings.
 
Brennon Anderson and Tanner Chauncey each finished with three hits for the Cougars, while Brock Hale homered and collected four RBI's.
 
Next up for the Pilots is a short trip south to face the No. 1 Oregon State Beavers in Keizer, Ore., on Tuesday. First pitch at Volcanoes Stadium is set for 5:35 p.m.