LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The Portland Pilots fended off a late push from the LMU Lions to win 7-6 and even the series.
Carter Gaston (8-1) started on the mound and picked up the win for Portland (24-16, 10-4). The right-hander went six innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out six. Tanner Douglas earned his eighth save of the year, pitching three innings and allowing three runs with one strikeout.
Offensively, the Pilots posted seven runs on nine hits, with three batters earning multiple hits on the day. Jack Thomson led the way with a 2-for-4 day that included a double three RBI's. Riley McCarthy was also 2-for-4 with two RBI's on the day. Ben Patacsil had multiple hits as well, batting 2-for-3.
Jake Holcroft continued his record-breaking ways today, earning his 103rd career walk, breaking the Pilots' all-time record for walks. Holcroft also holds the records for the Pilots in total hits and at-bats.
How it Happened
The Pilots put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the third inning. Portland scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Thomson.
The Lions then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 3-2 until the Pilots expanded their advantage in the seventh. McCarthy's run-scoring single highlighted an inning where Portland scored twice, which brought the score to 5-2 in favor of the Pilots.
LMU cut Portland's lead to 5-3 before the Pilots stretched the advantage to 6-3 in the eighth inning. The Pilots added a run when Holcroft drew a walk that scored Justin Ramirez and broke the Pilots' walk record.
Thomson crossed home plate with the lone run of the eighth inning for the Pilots, bringing the Portland advantage to 7-3. The Lions put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, all of them coming in a late push in the bottom of the ninth, but the Pilots still held on for the 7-6 win.
Game Notes
» Gaston has a WCC-leading eight wins on the year. It's the most wins a Pilot has posted since 2022 and is tied for the third highest win total for a Pilot in program history.
» Portland's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed three runs across.
» Tanner Douglas earned his eighth save of the season. It is tied for the sixth highest total number of saves in a season for a Pilot.
» The Pilots out-hit the Lions at a 9-8 clip.
» Portland pitchers faced 38 Loyola Marymount hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Pilots drew seven walks from Loyola Marymount pitching.
» Thomson led the Pilots at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
» Jake Holcroft broke the program record for walks in a career, now sitting with 103.
Up Next
The Pilots take on the Lions in the rubber match tomorrow at 1 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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