PORTLAND, Ore. --- Chad Stevens had three hits and the Pilots recovered from an early deficit to tie the score with the Waves, but Pepperdine plated what would prove to be the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning to edge Portland 4-3 in a West Coast Conference baseball game played on Friday night at Joe Etzel Field.
 
The Pilots (23-24, 5-17 WCC) scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning after three consecutive singles by Stevens, Matt Kelly, and Daniel Lopez loaded the bases for the Pilots. Pepperdine then recorded the first out of the inning at the plate, but moments late Kelly trotted home on a wild pitch, and Portland had the early advantage.
 
The Waves (22-21, 12-10 WCC) responded with two runs in the top of the second and another in the third to surge ahead 3-1. Duncan McKinnon brought home their first run with an RBI double in the second, and Joe Caparis handed the Waves their first lead with an RBI single.
 
Brandt Belk collected Pepperdine's RBI in the third inning.
 
The game remained 3-1 until the Pilots pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out in the frame, Stevens, Kelly, and Lopez again provided consecutive singles, this time Stevens scored on the base hit by Lopez to make it a one-run game. Cody Hawken then leveled the score with a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
The Pilots ran into some trouble the seventh when the Waves loaded the bases, and the go-ahead run would score on a wild pitch. Reliever Christian Peters did well out of the bullpen to limit the damage as he came in and recorded a big strike out to end the threat.
 
The Waves would hold on from there as starter Jonathan Pendergast (6-3) threw 8.0 innings on the night, allowing three runs on 11 hits, while striking out 10. Christian Stoutland pitched a perfect ninth to notch his fourth save.
 
The loss goes to Portland's Kevin Baker (0-6), who was the third of four pitchers used by the Pilots. Peters ended up working the final 2.1 innings, striking out two and allowing just one hit.
 
The Pilots out-hit the Waves 11-8.
 
The second game of this three-game set is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday night.