PORTLAND, Ore. -- Carter Gaston was dominant on Saturday, striking out eight Pacific hitters over seven innings of work to help power the Portland Pilots over the Tigers 12-1. The win clinched the series for the Pilots.

In addition to his eight strikeouts, Gaston (5-1) threw seven innings, giving up one run on four hits and walking two for Portland (19-9, 5-0). Morgan Codron also made an impact on the mound for the Pilots, throwing two shutout innings while allowing no hits, with two walks and four strikeouts.

Ben Patacsil was the top batter for Portland, going 3-for-5 with three RBI's on the day. Christian Cooney also had three RBI's in a 1-for-3 effort. Spencer Scott was the only other batter with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two RBI's.

How it Happened

The Pilots were trailing 1-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Portland scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Cooney and an RBI single from Patacsil.

The Tigers failed to push any runs across before the Pilots built on their lead in the fifth inning. Portland pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of junior Riley McCarthy that scored Jonas Salk and Scott, which brought the Pilots lead to 5-1.

Portland kept Pacific without a run before expanding their lead to 7-1 the following inning. The Pilots drove two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Scott that scored Evan Scavotto and Brady Bean.

Portland kept the Tigers scoreless before their offense got things rolling the next inning. The Pilots added two runs off of Pacific pitching, punctuated by a run-scoring double from senior Jake Holcroft, bringing the score to 9-1 in favor of Portland.

The Pilots held Pacific off the board before building on their lead to 12-1 the following inning. The score remained 12-1 for the rest of the game, as the Pilots coasted to the win.

Game Notes
» Ben Patacsil had three base hits in the game for Portland, a team high. Patacsil also added three RBI's.
» Gaston struck out eight Tigers hitters, a carer high. His seven innings pitched are also a career best.
» Every Portland starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Portland pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Pacific hitters.
» The Pilots out-hit the Tigers at a 10-4 clip.
» Cooney stole two bases in Saturday's game.
» Portland went 6-for-15 (.400) with runners in scoring position.
» Portland pitchers limited Pacific to just 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
» Portland pitchers faced 38 Pacific hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out 12.
» The Pilots drew 11 walks from Pacific pitching.
» Scott led the Pilots at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
» The Pilots have won nine of their last 10 games.
» This is the second year the Pilots have won their first five games of conference play.
» Portland has beaten Pacific in 11 straight games.

Up Next

The Pilots and Tigers play their series finale tomorrow at 1 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.

Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App.  For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.

Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to the Pilot Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly helps our nearly 300 student-athletes as they strive to make a difference in our community and achieve academic and athletic excellence. Thank you for support of Pilot Athletics!

Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.