RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- The long ball was the Bluff Boys' friend today, as the Portland Pilots took down the California Baptist Lancers 9-2 in Riverside. The win is the first of the season for Portland.
Morgan Codron (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Portland (1-2). The right-hander went six innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out two. Ryan Rembisz also made an impact on the mound for the Pilots, throwing three shutout innings while allowing one hit, with no walks and three strikeouts, earning the save.
Zach Toglia went 1-for-4 with a home run and four RBI's on the day. Freshman Trey Swygart got in on the action, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two RBI. The homer came in Swygart's first career at-bat. Tyler Howard also contributed for Portland, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a home run, a walk and an RBI.
How it Happened
The Pilots put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Portland scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from Swygart. Cody Nitowitz earned his first RBI hit as a Pilot as well.
The Lancers got a run back, but the Pilots earned back their three-run lead in the fourth. Portland picked up a run on Howard's leadoff home run, his first of the year, which brought the Pilots' lead to 4-1.
California Baptist narrowed Portland's lead to 4-2 before the Pilots stretched the advantage to 7-2 in the fifth inning. The Pilots scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer from Toglia, his first of the year.
Portland kept the Lancers scoreless before expanding their lead in the ninth inning. Nitowitz and Jonas Salk each scored a run for the Pilots in the inning, bringing the score to 9-2 in favor of Portland. The Pilots coasted to the win from there.
Game Notes
» Toglia drove in four runs for Portland and added a home run.
» Every Portland starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Pilots never relinquished the lead after going up 3-0 in the top of the second.
» Codron put together six innings of two-run ball for the Pilots.
» Portland hitters hit three home runs in the ballgame. Toglia, Trey Swygart and Tyler Howard all hit homers.
» Swygart's home run came in his first collegiate at-bat. He's the second Pilot this series to hit a home run in his first career at-bat.
» The Pilots out-hit the Lancers at an 8-5 clip.
» Portland went 2-for-5 (.400) with runners in scoring position.
» Portland pitchers faced 33 Lancer hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out five.
» This is the first win of the season for the Pilots.
Up Next
The Pilots and Lancers will close out the series tomorrow at 11 a.m. This is an update to the schedule, with the game originally set to be played at noon. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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