NACOGDOCHES, Texas ---Daniel Lopez homered and drove in three runs, the Pilots combined for three home runs overall, and Portland pitchers limited the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks to just three hits en route to a 7-3 win on Friday night at Jaycees Field. Matt Kelly and Jace McKinney also left the yard for the Pilots.
 
Portland (7-3) jumped ahead early when they got on the board in the top of the first inning. Chad Stevens led off the game with a single, McKinney followed with a double, and Connor Montgomery handed the Pilots a 1-0 lead when he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
The 'Jacks (4-6) got the run back in the home half of the first without the benefit of getting a hit as four walks forced in the tying run. With the score still tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Jordan Monacy hit a two-run homer to right field, giving the 'Jacks the lead.
 
But that's all the offense Stephen F. Austin could produce as Portland starter Nate Packard and relievers Morgan White and Cameron Richman combined to surrender just one hit during the first seven innings.
 
At the plate, the Pilots tied the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning and re-claimed the lead with another run in the fifth. In the fourth, Blake Porter led off with a double to the right-center gap, and a few batters later Lopez leveled the score with his first home run of the year.
 
Portland's run in the fifth was provided by Kelly, who began the frame with a solo homer to left field. The Pilots added three insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning, with the first coming on a home run with the bases empty by McKinney. Porter followed with a walk, and Cody Hawken sent a double down the left field line to give the Pilots two on with one out. Tracye Tammaro brought in a run with a sac fly, and Lopez notched his third RBI with a double.
 
Portland reliever Connor Knutson handled the final two innings to seal the win. White (1-0), a freshman, earns his first collegiate victory after allowing just the one run on one hit in 4.2 innings. He struck out eight. Richman retired the only batter he faced to end the seventh.
 
SFA starter Alex Palmer (0-1) is saddled with the loss after working 7.1 innings. He K'd 13, while yielding seven runs on six hits. The 'Jacks sent two relievers to the mound after Palmer.
 
Tomorrow the Pilots and 'Jacks conclude the four-game series with a double header, which is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. (Pacific). SFA rallied to win the opener 6-5 on Friday night.