Portland Pilots Swept by San Diego Toreros in Series

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Exciting moments from the series between the Portland Pilots and the San Diego Toreros.

News Summary

The Portland Pilots faced a tough weekend against the San Diego Toreros, losing all three games in the series. Despite standout performances from players like Cole Katayama-Stall and Riley McCarthy, the Pilots struggled to keep pace. The final scores were 6-3, 3-1, and 5-4, marking a difficult week for the team. Looking ahead, the Pilots will aim to rebound against the Oregon Ducks later this month as they seek to regain their momentum in the West Coast Conference.

Portland Pilots Struggle to Find Feet Against San Diego Toreros

Portland, Oregon – This past weekend was a tough one for the Portland Pilots as they faced off against the San Diego Toreros in a three-game series, ultimately dropping all three contests. The series began with an opening game on April 17, 2025, where the Pilots fought hard but fell short with a final score of 6-3.

Game 1: Pilots Drop Opener 6-3

In that opener, freshman sensation Cole Katayama-Stall was clearly the star for Portland, racking up three hits, which included a home run and a double. His contributions were pivotal as he also drove in one run for the team. Despite these efforts, the Pilots found themselves in a 4-0 hole by the sixth inning.

However, the team showed some resilience by scoring two runs to narrow the gap to 4-2. Katayama-Stall kept the excitement alive when he led off the eighth inning with a home run, bringing the score to 5-3. Unfortunately, San Diego added another run, sealing the game at 6-3.

Portland’s pitcher Kaden Segel (4-3) was charged with the loss, allowing 11 hits from 36 batters faced. In addition, he managed to strike out four Toreros, but it wasn’t enough to capture the win for the Pilots. Meanwhile, Cody Nitowitz and Riley McCarthy also contributed, hitting a double each, with McCarthy recording an RBI to his name.

Game 2: Pilots Fall 3-1

On April 18, the Pilots entered Game 2 looking to turn their fortunes around but ended up with another loss, this time 3-1. Carter Gaston (2-7) was on the mound and unfortunately took the loss after surrendering three earned runs over five innings. Relief pitcher Morgan Codron displayed promise, coming in for three innings and striking out three batters while not allowing any runs.

The Toreros weren’t shy during the fourth inning and scored all their runs in a flurry with a triple and two doubles, and the Pilots were unable to keep pace. Despite tallying five hits and drawing five walks, the Portland lineup struggled to convert those opportunities into runs. Riley McCarthy stood out as the sole player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI that came too late in the ninth inning.

Game 3: Swept by the Toreros

The series concluded on April 19 with the Pilots getting swept, suffering a tight 5-4 defeat. Nolan Umlandt was on the mound and unfortunately was tagged with the loss after the Toreros notched three runs in the crucial eighth inning. Starting pitcher Ryan Rembisz had a solid outing, going 6.2 innings and allowing only two runs while striking out five batters.

As for the offense, the Pilots once again leaned on McCarthy, who led the team with a 2-for-4 performance that included a home run and two RBIs. Cole Katayama-Stall also added to the run count with an RBI double, and Coleman Hollabaugh celebrated his milestone of hitting his very first home run as a Pilot. The Portland team saw some decent offensive output with four runs off six hits, scoring especially well during the second inning.

However, with leading on the board didn’t last long, as the Pilots entered the eighth inning with momentum but couldn’t maintain it. Ultimately, they couldn’t deliver any runs in the ninth, making it a tough end to what was meant to be a decisive series for the team.

Looking Ahead: Oregon Ducks on the Horizon

This series marked the first time this season that the Pilots have been swept in a West Coast Conference series. The Pilots will now shift their focus, preparing to face the Oregon Ducks on April 22, 2025. It will be interesting to see how the team rebounds from this challenging series and whether they can regain their mojo against their state rivals.

Fans will surely be hoping for a turnaround, as the Pilots have shown glimpses of their potential throughout the season. One thing is for sure, the excitement of college baseball is alive and well in Portland!