PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland starter Corbin Powers had a another solid performance on the mound and Beau Brundage collected three RBI's as the Pilots topped UC Irvine 6-3 in the first game of a double header on Saturday, but the Anteaters recovered to win game two 6-5 at Joe Etzel Field. UCI took the night cap despite the Pilots out-hitting the Anteaters 12-4.
 
Powers (3-1) earns his third straight win after holding UCI to just three runs on six hits in 7.0 innings. The senior lefty struck out five, and he held the Anteaters scoreless for five innings after the visitors plated two in the top of the first to jump ahead early.
 
Down 2-0, the Pilots answered with three runs in the bottom of the second and three more in the third inning to surge ahead. During the second frame, the Pilots had a stretch of six straight hitters reaching base, which included a Chad Stevens RBI double a two-run single from Brundage to give the home team a 3-2 lead.
 
In the third, Daniel Lopez drilled a double into the left-center gap that scored Dutton Elske, and Cody Hawken sent a single through the left side of the infield to bring home Lopez and hand the Pilots a three-run cushion. The lead grew to 6-2 before the end of the inning as Brundage drew a bases loaded walk.
 
That was more than enough for Powers, who has been on fire in three appearances at home this season. The Anteaters did add a run in the top of the seventh, but reliever Nick Shur was nearly flawless during the final two innings to pick up his first save with Portland. Shur allowed just one hit and fanned three.
 
UC Irvine starter Louis Raymond (1-2) took the loss in game one as he allowed three runs in 2.0 innings of work.
 
Seven Pilot pitchers then held the Anteaters (9-5) to just four hits in game two, but 12 combined walks helped UC Irvine earn the split. Two of UCI's runs came without the benefit of getting a hit, in the second and fifth innings, and Ryan Fitzpatrick left the yard with a two-run homer to left field in the top of the third.
 
But the game remained in doubt until the later innings as the Pilots scored four in the bottom of the second. Portland (5-10) pieced together five hits, with Stevens and Travis Turney both recording RBI's with infield singles. Another run came in on a double play turned by the Anteaters, and Brundage continued his productive day with a run-scoring double to left center that made it a 4-1 game.
 
UCI had leveled the score 4-4 by the end of the fifth inning, and the Anteaters took a 6-4 lead with a two-run eighth, with both runs scoring on a Jacob Castro single.
 
The Pilots did get one back in the home half of the eighth when Matt Kelly sent a two-out, run-scoring single to left, but Jordan Bocko closed the door in the ninth to notch his second save of the series.
 
Taylor Rashi (2-0) takes the win after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, and Portland reliever Jake Hawken (0-2) is saddled with the loss.
 
Tomorrow the Pilots and Anteaters conclude the four-game series with the finale at 12 p.m.