SAN DIEGO—San Diego used an early onslaught of runs to defeat Portland, 10-2, and clinch the series on Friday night at Fowler Park.
 
The Toreros (25-14, 9-8 WCC) jumped out to an early lead after scoring six runs in the bottom of the first. The Pilots (20-19, 2-15 WCC) got on the board in the fourth with an RBI single and a solo home run, but USD responded scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-RBI single by Jeff Houghtby.
 
USD added insurance runs in the fifth and seventh to go up 2-0 in the conference series.
 
Houghtby finished the day with three RBIs and a run for the Toreros. Adam Kerner paced San Diego offensively, going 3-for-4 including two doubles and finishing with a run and two RBIs. Ripken Reyes also went 3-for-4 in the contest adding a run, while Cody Jefferis went 2-for-4 with a triple, a run and two RBIs and Paul Kunst was 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs for USD.
 
Five Toreros had multi-hit outings and San Diego finished with 14 hits on the night.
 
Grady Miller (4-2) pitched seven strong innings for the Toreros in his third start of the season. Miller gave up just two runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
 
Louie Crow came on in relief of Miller in the eighth, allowing just one hit and finishing with one walk and one strikeout.
 
The Toreros will go for the series sweep against Portland on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT.