LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Portland Pilots (17-9, 4-4 WCC) dropped Game 2 of their three-game series against the Loyola Marymount Lions (8-17-1, 5-3 WCC) 6-3. The loss puts the Pilots back at .500 in WCC play.

Caleb Franzen took the loss after going seven innings and allowing six runs with 10 hits. He also put together eight strikeouts. Matt McClure dominated on the mound for LMU, holding the Pilots to no hits until the sixth inning. He finished with only two runs and three hits allowed.

The Pilots struggled offensively, with only three runs and six hits on the evening. They did, however, get two home runs, one from Sam Brown and the other from Briley Knight. It was their fourth and third of the season respectively.

The Lions got things started in the third inning. They loaded the bases for Benny Casillas, who stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam over the left field wall to put the Lions up 4-0.

Portland finally answered in the sixth inning with a home run of their own. Brown's solo shot brought them within three, but the Lions added back to their lead in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly. LMU led 5-1 after six.

The seventh inning followed a familiar pattern to the sixth, with Knight hitting his solo shot only for the Lions' Casillas to answer back with an RBI double. The Pilots tried to close the gap, but couldn't find the run support. They earned one run in the ninth off a walk with the bases loaded, but Portland still fell 6-3.

The rubber match between the Pilots and the Lions is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video.