PORTLAND, Ore.—After a strong start from Concordia, the Portland Pilots ran away with an 11-4 victory on Tuesday.

Despite falling behind in the first, Concordia (3-4) held tough with Portland (3-0) early, answering the Pilots run in the first with runs in the second and third innings.

Concordia, batting as the away team since the game was originally scheduled at Portland’s stadium, scored its first run in the top of the second after Jared Young hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Carl Beckert. Beckert got in position for the run after tagging from second on another fly out from Mike Cero. Beckert led off the inning with a single up the middle then stole second during Cero’s at bat.

The Pilots answered immediately with a run in the bottom half of the second, but Concordia came right back with two more in the third. Blake Drake and Mike Dickman started the inning with a bunt single and a walk, respectively, then moved to third and second off a sacrifice bunt from Jimmy Sanchez. Jordan Keeker followed with a single to right that scored Drake before Sean Myrom plate Dickman with a ground ball to second. With the two runs in the third, the Cavs had suddenly come back to take a lead at 3-2.

Again, though, the Pilots matched the Cavs’ scores with runs of their own to take the lead back at 4-3 through three innings. The Pilots’ defense then stepped up after that, holding the Cavs scoreless over the next five innings.

Meanwhile, the Pilots’ offense continued its strong play, bringing home two runs in the fifth and sixth innings and three more in the seventh. By then, the Pilots led 11-3 and they closed out the victory from there.

The Cavs’ Cole Shidaki added the game’s final run after Sheldon Austria plated him with a single through the right side of the infield. Shidaki led off the inning with a walk then moved to second on a ground out from Ryan Rodgriguez.

Overall, the Pilots recorded ten more hits than the Cavs (16-6), while the Pilots’ hitters totaled six doubles and two triples.

Individually for the Cavs, Drake and Austria each went 1-for-2, while Austria, Keeker, Myrom and Jared Young all recorded RBIs.

On the mound, only the Pilots’ starter pitcher for more than one inning, while the Cavs subbed in five pitchers themselves. In the end, Portland’s Matt McCallister finished with the win, while the Cavs’ Jason Snodgrass picked up the loss.

Concordia will return to action this weekend when it hosts the Cascade Northwest Challenge. The tournament will run from Friday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 26 and feature teams from both the NAIA West Region and the Northwest Conference. The Cavs will start with one game Friday, playing Puget Sound at 5 p.m.