SUGAR LAND, Texas (Interstat) — The Portland Pilots broke open a tight game with a six-run ninth inning to defeat the Purdue Boilermakers 9-3 on Friday at Constellation Field in the season opener for both teams.

Portland, which finished with 11 hits, led just 3-2 after five innings and clung to a 3-2 lead entering the eighth. The Pilots then methodically pulled away, scoring once in the eighth before the decisive final-frame outburst to secure the victory.

The most important sequence of the game came in the top of the ninth inning, transforming a manageable two-run deficit for Purdue into an insurmountable one. Leading 4-3, Portland sent 10 batters to the plate against two Boilermakers relievers. Cole Katayama-Stall, who had struck out three times earlier, ignited the rally with an RBI double. Brady Bean followed with an RBI single, Trey Swygart added an RBI double and Jonas Salk capped the onslaught with a two-run double. Nolan Miller drove in the final run with a single, as the Pilots recorded six of their hits in the inning.

Purdue, which was projected as a slight favorite by Interstat’s ELO system, took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI double by Richmond. The Boilermakers added single runs in the third and fifth innings, the latter scoring on a wild pitch, to stay within striking distance at 3-2. Purdue had eight hits but left multiple scoring opportunities unanswered, stranding runners in scoring position in the second, third and fifth innings.

Portland’s initial runs came via small ball and patience. The Pilots took a 2-1 lead in the fifth without a hit, using a double, two walks and a sacrifice fly. They added a critical insurance run in the seventh on another sacrifice fly by Miller and broke the game open in the eighth with three runs on just one hit, leveraging three walks and a hit batter.

Bean reached base four times for Portland with a double, two walks and a single. Salk drove in three runs, while Swygart scored three times. Katayama-Stall scored twice despite three strikeouts. For Purdue, Flores had two hits and an RBI.

The win gives Portland a 1-0 start to the season, while Purdue begins 0-1. The teams continue their three-game series at Constellation Field on Saturday and Sunday.

Portland next plays at Purdue on Saturday before a midweek game at Cal State Northridge on Feb. 18. Purdue’s schedule continues with the series against Portland before a road game at Rice on Feb. 18.