The Portland Pilots baseball team defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 8-3 on Mar. 23, overcoming a one-hour power outage that delayed play. The win extended the Pilots’ streak to seven games, bringing their record to 15-7 with victories in 13 of their last 15 contests.
This game was notable not only for the team’s performance but also for its unusual interruption when stadium lights went out in the eighth inning. After an hour-long delay, play resumed and Portland secured its win at home.
Trey Swygart led the offense with two hits in four at-bats, including a double and two runs batted in. Swygart’s hit streak now stands at five games. Jonas Salk contributed by scoring three runs and hitting a double during a five-run seventh inning; he is now the first Pilot this season to reach twenty runs batted in.
Carter Gaston delivered seven strong innings on the mound, allowing just one run and four hits while striking out five batters. Gaston’s four wins are a team high this year, and he has yet to allow more than one earned run per outing this season.
The Wildcats took an early lead with an RBI single in the second inning before Portland responded in the sixth with Swygart’s two-run double. The Pilots broke open the game with five runs in the seventh, highlighted by Salk’s bases-clearing double.
Portland has now won seven straight games—their longest streak in two years—and improved their home record to ten wins and two losses this season. This victory marks their second over a Big Ten opponent this year.
Looking ahead, Portland will remain at home for a three-game series against Saint Mary’s Gaels starting Friday, March 27.
