PORTLAND, Ore. --- Jason Rosen hit a home run and scored all three Portland runs to help the Pilots hang around with Loyola Marymount, but in the end a five-run third inning proved to be the difference as the Lions prevailed 7-3 in a West Coast Conference baseball game played on Friday night at Joe Etzel Field. The game is the first of three between the Pilots and Lions, which will conclude the 2017 regular season.
 
Rosen scored his first run in the bottom of the first inning to help the Pilots (10-39-1, 5-20 WCC) jump out to an early lead. With two outs, Rosen stole second base to get into scoring position with Kevin Wade at the plate. Wade then came through with a single up the middle, scoring Rosen to make it a 1-0 game.
 
The lead would stand until the third when LMU (35-16, 18-7 WCC) surged in front with five runs off of Portland starter Corbin Powers. Jimmy Hill led off the frame with a solo home run, and Spencer Erdman provided a two-run triple to help the Lions claim a 5-1 advantage.
 
The Pilots got one back in the home half of the inning, courtesy Rosen and Wade once again. This time Rosen drew a two-out walk, moved to second on a walk to Matt Kelly, and scored when Wade sent a single to right field.
 
LMU added another run in the top of the fourth on a solo homer from Billy Wilson to make it 6-2, but Powers would settle down from there, retiring the Lions in order during the next two innings.
 
Rosen's homer came on the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth inning, and it cleared the scoreboard in right field. It's the senior's first career home run, and it pulled the Pilots within 6-3.
 
Portland reliever Jake Hawken tossed a scoreless seventh, but the Lions scored an insurance run in the eighth after Jordan Horak replaced Hawken with two on and no outs.
 
LMU would hold on from there to seal the win, with help from reliever Niko Decolati, who took the mound in the top of the eighth after playing right field for the first seven innings. Decolati struck out four in 2.0 hitless innings, and he made a winner of starter Brenton Arriaga (6-2). Arriaga struggled with his control a bit, walking three in 7.0 innings, but he yielded just the three runs on eight hits, while striking out seven.
 
Powers (1-6) scattered six hits in 6.0 innings, and he fanned five. Horak K'd four in 2.0 innings of work.
 
The win clinches a spot in the WCC Championships for LMU next weekend, and it keeps the Lions in the race for a league title.
 
Game two of this series is set for 6 p.m. Saturday night.