PORTLAND, Ore. (Interstat) — The San Diego Toreros visit the Portland Pilots on Thursday night at Joe Etzel Field for the opener of a three-game West Coast Conference series.

San Diego (16-24) enters on a high note after routing Saint Mary’s 16-6 on Sunday. The Toreros have won three of their past five games, but their season has been defined by inconsistency, with a 5-9 record in April. Portland (23-18) has been the steadier club, though it dropped two of three at Santa Clara over the weekend, salvaging a 3-1, 10-inning victory Sunday.

Players to watch

San Diego second baseman Diego Gonzalez has been the Toreros’ most productive hitter. Over his past 10 games, Gonzalez is batting .344 (11-for-32) with five home runs and 12 RBIs. He went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs in Sunday’s win over Saint Mary’s and has homered in four of his past six contests.

Portland counters with right-handed pitcher Kaden Segel, who delivered a dominant start Sunday at Santa Clara: 5 1/3 innings, no hits, no runs and three strikeouts in the Pilots’ 10-inning victory. Segel’s season numbers are uneven (Interstat) — he allowed five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings at Gonzaga on April 12 (Interstat) — but his stuff has been electric when on. He has not allowed an earned run in 10 innings across his past two outings (10 strikeouts).

Recent results

San Diego’s win Sunday was powered by Gonzalez (3-for-4, HR, 4 RBIs), center fielder Andrew Gauna (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs) and first baseman/left fielder CJ Moran (3-for-5, 2 RBIs). The Toreros have lost six of their past 10 games.

Portland’s win Sunday featured Segel’s start, 4 2/3 scoreless innings from reliever Alexander Via and a 2-for-5, one-RBI game from first baseman Trey Swygart. The Pilots are 5-5 in their past 10.

Projection

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 San Diego victory, but the Toreros’ bullpen and defensive lapses have cost them tight games all season. Portland’s pitching depth could tip the scales at home.

Up next

The series continues with games Friday and Saturday at Joe Etzel Field. San Diego returns home to face UC Irvine on Tuesday, May 5, while Portland visits Oregon State on Tuesday, May 5, at Hillsboro.