PORTLAND, Ore. (Interstat) — Gauge Lockhart carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and the San Francisco Dons weathered a late rally to edge the Portland Pilots 5-4 on Saturday at Joe Etzel Field.

Lockhart, the Dons’ starting pitcher, was dominant for six-plus innings, stifling a Pilots lineup that had won the series opener a day earlier. The right-hander did not allow a hit and faced the minimum through six frames, with only two walks and a hit batter blemishing his outing. He struck out four.

San Francisco provided its ace with early support against Portland starter Trey Newmann, who struck out 12 but was tagged for four runs over six innings. The Dons broke through in the third when shortstop TJ Rogers launched a three-run homer to left field, scoring Isaiah Landry and JA Lewis.

The Dons added a run in the fourth. Brett Garrison singled, stole second and came home on a single by Landry, who finished the day a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk and an RBI.

Lockhart’s no-hit bid ended in the seventh when he issued a leadoff walk to Tanner Swygart. After a fielder’s choice, Brady Bean singled for Portland’s first hit, ending Lockhart’s day after 6 1/3 innings, one earned run, and the four strikeouts.

The Pilots’ offense, dormant for most of the afternoon, erupted against reliever Holzemer. Dakota Chun drove in Portland’s first run with a single. Pinch-hitter Leo Cote then followed with a dramatic three-run homer to center field, suddenly slicing the Dons’ lead to 5-4 and bringing the home crowd to life.

San Francisco added a critical insurance run in the eighth, albeit unearned. With two on and two out, JA Lewis lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring an unearned run made possible by a catcher’s interference call earlier in the inning.

That run proved vital as Portland threatened in the bottom of the eighth against Dons reliever Quentin Pohorski. The Pilots loaded the bases with two outs via a walk, a single, and another walk, but Pohorski induced an inning-ending popup to shortstop to escape unscathed.

Pohorski returned for the ninth and closed the door, striking out Chun and Cote after a groundout to seal the victory. He earned the save with two perfect innings of relief, striking out two.

The win evened the series at one game apiece and improved San Francisco’s record to 18-17. Portland fell to 21-15. The most important sequence of the game was Cote’s seventh-inning pinch-hit homer, which transformed a potential shutout into a one-run contest and set up the tense final innings.

Lockhart’s performance was a stark turnaround from his previous start on April 11, when he allowed five earned runs in five innings against San Diego. Rogers’ three-RBI day and Landry’s consistent hitting anchored the Dons’ eight-hit attack. For Portland, Aaron Louis had two of the team’s five hits.

The Dons and Pilots conclude their three-game series on Sunday.