PORTLAND, Ore. --- UC Irvine gained the early lead, but the Anteater pitching wilted early on to falter in the first game of the doubleheader Saturday at Joe Etzel Field falling 6-3 to Portland.

Louis Raymond got the start, but ran into trouble in the second inning giving up four hits and issuing two walks to relinquish an early 2-0 lead as the Pilots (5-9) assumed the 3-2 lead. Raymond's day was done after that lasting just 32 pitches and giving way to Jake Lachemann. The freshman was touched up for three runs of his own in the second inning, and the 'Eaters (8-5) looking up a steep 6-2 deficit.

On the other end, Portland's Corbin Powers settled in after his rocky, two-run first shutting the 'Eaters down until the seventh when UCI got a run back with two outs, but Powers forged through 131 pitches to stake the Pilots out to the 6-3 lead after seven.

The 'Eaters put up a small threat with a leadoff single in the eighth, and Cole Kreuter launched a ball over the fence to left field but foul, and reliever Nick Shur regrouped to get Kreuter and the rest of the 'Eaters in order to preserve the team's first save of the season, 6-3.

Raymond incurred the loss allowed three runs in two innings. Chris Vargas providing a pick-me-up with four shutout innings out of the pen adding three strikeouts, and Dylan Riddle added with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

The Anteater offense revolved around Brendan Brooks who had two hits, scored a run, and walked, and his defense saved runs as well providing outfield assists in consecutive plays in that second inning. Konnor Zickefoose had a two-run single as the DH.

Beau Brundage drove home three of the Pilot runs, and was 1 of 4 with multiple hits. Daniel Lopez was one of the those players and he scored twice, doubled, and had an RBI.

The 'Eaters and Pilots complete the doubleheader following game one on Saturday, and the series closes out on Sunday with a 12:00 p.m. start