The Portland Pilots baseball squad is set to wrap up its regular season with a three‑game series against the Pacific Tigers at Joe Etzel Field, beginning Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. The matchup carries added weight as the Pilots sit at 25‑24 overall and 11‑13 in West Coast Conference play, looking to finish the year on a positive note after a stretch of mixed results.
Coached by Geoff Loomis, who is entering his 11th season at the helm and already ranks fourth all‑time in wins in Portland history, the team has seen a resurgence in pitching performance. The staff boasts a conference‑leading 4.25 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP and three shutouts, with freshmen Will Labonte posting a 2.63 ERA that tops all WCC freshmen and Alex Via contributing 20th‑ranked national nine saves.
Offensively, the Pilots have been powered by a handful of standout hitters. Carter Stewart is batting .571 over his last two games, having launched a home run and driven in two runs, while Cole Katayama‑Stall recorded his 10th homer of the season and leads the team in slugging percentage, RBI and stolen bases. Jonas Salk, now 12th on the school’s all‑time RBI list with 110 career points, and Trey Swygart, who ranks second in the conference with a .495 on‑base rate in WCC play, have also been key contributors.
The Pilots’ batting eye is reflected in their ability to draw walks, with Cody Nitowitz, Katayama‑Stall and Trey Swygart among the league leaders in that category. Meanwhile, Trey Newmann proved to be the only pitcher to log five or more innings this weekend, throwing six frames with six runs allowed and six strikeouts, underscoring the depth of the rotation.
Looking Ahead
Across the diamond, the Pacific Tigers arrive with a 22‑26‑1 record and a recent two‑game winning streak against the San Diego Toreros. They have dropped 15 straight to the Pilots over the past seasons, a streak that the Pilots hope to extend as they aim to finish the year strong. With the regular season drawing to a close, the Pilots’ blend of veteran leadership and fresh talent positions them to make a final push in the WCC tournament. The coaching staff, the pitching rotation and the potent bat lineup all point toward a promising finish that could set the tone for next year’s campaign.