HILLSBORO, Ore. --- The Utah Valley Wolverines jumped out to an early lead before holding off the Portland Pilots to claim a 6-2 win in a non-conference baseball game played on Thursday afternoon at Ron Tonkin Field. The game is the first of a four-game series between the two teams.
 
The Wolverines (1-4) scored the day's first run in the top of the second when Mick Madsen sent a single up the middle. The base hit brought home Pacen Hayes, who had previously doubled to center.
 
An inning later Utah Valley pushed two more across to make it a 3-0 game. The Wolverines loaded the bases with a hit to right field and consecutive bunt singles, and Alexander Marco lifted a sacrifice fly to the outfield to score one. They'd add an RBI ground out before the frame was down to take a three-run lead.
 
In the fourth the Wolverines took advantage of a pair of Portland errors to add three more runs. Mitch Moralez produced the big hit, which was a two-run single to center. Both runs were unearned, and the Pilots trailed 6-0.
 
From there UVU starter Jesse Smith and reliever Logan Petet held the Pilots scoreless until the ninth when the Pilots finally got on the board after the first two batters of the inning reached base. Then with one out and runners on the corners, Ethan Smith slapped a double down the left field line to score Travis Turney. Portland tried to keep the rally going, and Henry Cheney provided the Pilots' second run with a sacrifice fly.
 
But that's all the Pilots could put together as Petet recorded the final out to notch the three-inning save. Schmit and Petet combined to hold the Pilots to six hits, and Schmit (0-1) struck out four in 6.0 innings of work to register the win.
 
The loss goes to Portland (3-1) starter Nate Packard (0-1), who was charged with all six runs, four earned, on six hits in 3.0 innings. Reliever Peter Allegro was solid out of the bullpen, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings. He scattered three hits, struck out five, and walked just one.
 
The Pilots and Wolverines next play a double header on Friday at Ron Tonkin Field, with first pitch of the first game scheduled for 11 a.m.