PORTLAND, Ore. --- The CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners took advantage of their opportunities before holding off the Portland Pilots to win the series opener 5-1 on Thursday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots out-hit the Roadrunners 9-7, and only one of CSUB's five runs were earned.
 
CSU Bakersfield (3-7) scored their first run in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly, and they capitalized on a Portland (3-5) error in the second inning to score two more. Daniel Carrizosa made it a 2-0 game with a sacrifice fly, and the lead stretched to 3-0 when a run scored on a fielder's choice just before the Pilots recorded the third out.
 
The Roadrunners pushed their lead to 5-0 with a two-run homer in the top of the fifth, after a Portland error extended the inning. Ryan Koch was responsible for the two-run blast, his second homer of the season.
 
The Pilots did get one back in the bottom of the frame when Chad Stevens tripled into the right-field corner with two outs. Beau Brundage then stepped to the plate and sent a single to left field.
 
But that's all the offense Portland could produce as CSU Bakersfield starter Aaron Charles (1-2) had his best outing of the year. He tossed 7.0 innings, yielding just the one run on seven hits. He struck out a pair and didn't issue a walk.
 
The Pilots tried to take advantage of the CSUB bullpen getting two runners on in the eighth and another in the ninth, but reliever Naithen Dewsnap came in to seal the win with 2.0 innings of solid work, earning his second save. He fanned three and allowed only one hit, which was a single off the bat of Dutton Elske in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Portland starter Brad McVay (0-1) takes the loss after lasting an inning. Nick Shur followed McVay with 4.0 innings of relief, and Connor Knutson pitched the final 4.0, holding the Roadrunners scoreless on just two hits.
 
Game two of this four-game series is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday.