RENO - Shawn Scobee blasted three home runs, including an eighth-inning grand slam, to power the University of Nevada past Portland, 9-2, Friday afternoon before 791 fans at Peccole Park.
The Wolf Pack (5-11) take on the Pilots (2-11) today at 1 p.m. in the second game of the three-game series.
"It's nice to see him do that because he's struggled offensively," Nevada coach Gary Powers said of Scobee.
"I was feeling a lot better than I was last weekend," Scobee said referring to Oregon State's sweep over Nevada last week. "All week, I've been going back to the basics, getting my foot down, and getting my bat into the right slot."
Wesley Dorsett picked up the win after pitching out of a seventh-inning jam when Nik Kosach doubled in the tying run off reliever Owen Brolsma of Carson City.
Tim Schoeninger (1-2) picked up a no-decision after pitching six innings. He allowed one run and five hits while striking out eight and walking three.
"Dorsett came in and pitched us out of jam," Powers said.
With Schoeninger, Dorsett and Scobee being seniors, Powers said it was nice to see leadership.
"This team's played hard all of every game this season," Powers said. "That's how you get back into the groove."
Schoeninger said his teammates have been working on leadership this season.
"We've talked about it," he said. "We've kind of been stressing to pick each other up and not leave someone hanging. That's what we need out of our seniors to show the leadership, guys picking each other up all day, that's a good sign for a team that's struggling."
Schoeninger said it's natural for the starter role to have a no-decision despite having a good pitching performance.
"Especially being 4-11, you take any win you can get. It's a tough break going six innings and not being able to get the win," he said. "The bullpen stepped it up. Wes (Dorsett) came in and did a good job keeping the game close."
Thanks to Pilot first baseman Chase Powell dropping a possible third out in the eighth inning, the Wolf Pack took advantage and scored five runs.
"That's been happening on the other side of the fence," Powers said of the Pack's misfortune. "It's just nice to see us get that one opportunity to take advantage today."
Dayton's Matt Bowman doubled in Trevor O'Sullivan and a Terry Walsh walk set up Scobee's third home run. Bowman ended up going 2-for-4.
Scobee drove a 1-1 pitch over the left centerfield wall off southpaw reliever Justin Ehlers for the two-out grand slam.
"I just missed the pitch before that," Scobee said of his at-bat. "He threw me a curve ball and he actually jammed me a little bit."
Powers said Scobee showed his strength by muscling out the home run on a jammed pitch.
"He's so strong. It's evident by the last home run. He got jammed on it," Powers said.
The senior right fielder hit his second homer of the game, a two-run shot, in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie.
After Jordan Opdyke hit a solo home run to left field in the second inning, Scobee connected on his first home run in the fourth.
Facing a 2-2 count with one out, Scobee hooked the ball fair just over the left field wall for the solo shot.