PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland senior outfielder Caleb Whalen belted his fourth home run of the year, but the No. 24 Brigham Young Cougars jumped out to an early lead before prevailing 8-2 over the Pilots to begin a three-game West Coast Conference series at Joe Etzel Field on Thursday night.
Whalen's blast came after the Cougars (20-3, 5-2 WCC) had scored six runs during the game's first three innings. With two outs in the bottom of the third, he drilled a 2-0 pitch deep over the fence in left, briefly pulling the Pilots within 6-1.
Cooper Hummel then reached on an error and Ryan Barr followed with a single as the Pilots tried to extend the inning, but BYU starter Michael Rucker escaped the jam with a strike out.