PORTLAND, Ore. (Interstat) — A disastrous seventh inning fueled by Northwestern miscues allowed the Portland Pilots to rally from a three-run deficit and claim an 8-3 victory over the Wildcats in nonconference baseball Monday night.

The game turned decisively in the bottom of the seventh. Entering the frame trailing 3-2, Portland capitalized on a pair of critical Northwestern errors to plate five unearned runs and seize control. Pinch-hitter Isaac Pfeifer reached on an error by the shortstop to lead off, and after a pitching change, pinch-runner Blake Avery stole second. Another error, this time by the first baseman on a ball hit by pinch-hitter Lucas Kauffman, loaded the bases with no outs.

After a strikeout, reliever Tommy Bridges hit Portland’s Ben Bean to force in the tying run. Carter Nitowitz followed with an RBI single to give the Pilots their first lead at 4-3. Following a popout, Jonas Salk delivered the crushing blow, a three-run double to left field that cleared the bases and extended the lead to 7-3. All five runs in the inning were unearned.

The late outburst overshadowed a masterful start from Portland’s Carter Gaston, who earned the win. Gaston pitched seven strong innings, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out five. He effectively worked around trouble early, as Northwestern stranded multiple runners.

Northwestern had built its lead with small ball in the second inning. A single by Liam McElfatrick, a hit-by-pitch, and a passed ball set the table for Antonio Ruiz, whose RBI single through the left side opened the scoring. The Wildcats added another run in the eighth on a solo home run by Jackson Freeman, his first of the season, but could not mount a larger comeback.

The Wildcats’ pitching was effective early, with starter Ryan Weaver throwing four perfect innings, striking out four. The bullpen combination of Justin Fryer, James Whitaker, Bridges, and Dominic DeLoreto, however, could not contain the Pilots in the fateful seventh, with Whitaker being charged with two unearned runs.

Portland added an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI double by Charlie Stewart. Northwestern scored its final run in the ninth on a pinch-hit RBI double by Counsell.

With the win, Portland improved to 15-7 on the season. Northwestern fell to 8-12-1. The two teams are scheduled to meet again Tuesday to conclude the brief two-game series.