LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- Portland freshman starter Eli Morse went the distance on the hill allowing only five hits while striking out 11 as the Pilots opened a three-game West Coast Conference series with a 6-1 win over the first-place Loyola Marymount Lions on Friday night at Page Stadium. Tate Budnick collected two RBI's for the Pilots, while Cody Hawken homered and scored three runs.
 
But the night belonged to Morse (3-5), who claims the first complete game win by a Portland (14-22, 7-9 WCC) pitcher since 2015. He compiled a career-high in strikeouts, and he fanned two in the bottom of the ninth as he retired the side in order to seal the win.
 
Meanwhile the Pilots provided all the offense he would need, beginning with a solo home run from Hawken in the top of the second inning. With one out, Hawken pulled a deep fly down the left field line that cleared the fence for his team-high sixth homer of the season.
 
The Pilots added to their 1-0 lead when they exploded for four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Ryan Hoogerwerf began the outburst with an RBI single to left that scored Beau Brundage, and Chad Stevens followed with a run-scoring base hit to right-center field.
 
Collin Runge made it three straight hits with a single that brought home Hoogerwerf, and
Budnick capped the scoring with an RBI on a fielder's choice to push the lead to 5-0. Budnick claimed his second RBI in the top of the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly, which scored Hawken who had previously singled and worked his way to third base.
 
LMU's (17-21, 10-6 WCC) only run came on a solo homer by Niko DeColati in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lions' starter Codie Paiva (4-4) takes the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits and four walks in 7.0 innings. C.J. Fernandezees allowed one run on a pair of hits during the final 2.0 innings.
 
The Pilots will look to secure the series as the same two teams meet tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Page Stadium.