CLAREMONT, Calif. - Jeremy Druffel collected four hits while Joshua Davis and Matthew Nelson homered as visiting Whitworth earned its first win of the season and a split of the doubleheader against Pomona-Pitzer with a 10-2 victory on Saturday. The Sagehens won the opener, taking a late lead and holding off the Pirates for a 9-8 win.
Davis homered twice Saturday and totaled five hits while Druffel also produced five hits during the doubleheader to lead Whitworth (1-2) against Pomona-Pitzer (1-2).
The Pirates will conclude the season-opening road trip with a rematch against Cal Lutheran on Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. The Kingsmen claimed an 11-5 victory over Whitworth in the season opener on Friday.
Game 1: Pomona-Pitzer 9, Whitworth 8
The Sagehens broke a 7-7 tie with a two-run seventh inning and held off the Pirates in the ninth inning to win the opener.
Pomona-Pitzer's Sam Fox led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and later scored the go-ahead run on an RBI single by Kevin Jordan. Jordan advanced to second on a balk before scoring on a single down the left-field line.
Davis cut the deficit to 9-8 with a one-out, solo home run to right field but a fly out and groundout ended the game as Pomona-Pitzer held on for the win.
Whitworth had taken an early 2-0 lead, scoring in the second and third innings. Joel Condreay singled, stole second base, then took third base on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Thomas Wakem in the second frame. The Bucs doubled the lead in the third inning after Garrett Hughes led off with a double and later scored on a single to right-center field by Spencer Locati.
After loading the bases but failing to score in the second inning the Sagehens once again loaded the bases to begin the third frame, this time sparking a six-run inning. Pomona-Pitzer recorded four hits and took advantage of three Whitworth errors defensively to open a 6-2 lead.
The Pirates responded the next inning with one run, as Druffel hit a leadoff double and later scored on a two-out double from JT Phelan. The Sagehens added a run in the fifth inning to take a 7-3 lead.
Whitworth staged a rally with a four-run sixth inning as Condreay, Wakem and Phelan each singled to begin the inning. A fielder's choice scored Condreay before Dalton Carter connected with a two-RBI single. Carter later scored on a two-out RBI single by Davis to tie the contest before the Sagehens rallied to regain the lead in the seventh inning.
Davis finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs and run scored. Carter was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored while Phelan was 2 for 4 with one RBI. Hughes also scored twice and collected one RBI while going 1 for 3 at the plate and stealing two bases.
Peyton Holm picked up the win in relief for Pomona-Pitzer, allowing two runs and three hits over four innings of work. Taylor Roelofs took the loss for Whitworth in relief. Four Pirates contributed in the relief effort of starting pitcher Spencer Ansett.
Game 2: Whitworth 10, Pomona-Pitzer 2
Whitworth built a 5-1 lead before blowing the game open with five runs in the sixth inning, punctuated by a grand slam home run from Nelson. Dan Scheibe started for the Pirates and provided five strong innings to earn the win, striking out eight while allowing one run on four hits.
The Pirates grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third inning as a walk, single and fielder's choice put two runners in scoring position for Davis. He provided a two-RBI double and later scored on a single by Druffel.
The Sagehens struck for a run in the third inning before Whitworth extended the lead to 5-1 on a two-run home run to right field from Davis in the fifth frame -- his second of the day.
The Pirates continued to click offensively in the sixth inning as Nate Lamberty led off with a double, advanced to third base on a bunt single from Skyler Lookabill and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Dalton Carter. Following the sacrifice fly Locati walked and Davis was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Nelson, who delivered with the grand slam home run to right field.
"Our guys look comfortable at the plate right now," head coach Dan Ramsay said. "Our turf facility at home allows us to get some live at-bats during the preseason and our pitchers also give us a competitive look prior to getting on a field in Southern California. It's also a testament to the talent and work our guys have put in during the offseason."
Pomona-Pitzer added one run in the sixth inning, but could not generate further offense against Phelan and Alex Robichaux, who each pitched well in relief of Scheibe.
Davis was 2 for 4 with three runs scored and four RBIs while Nelson finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and four RBIs. Druffel was 4 for 5 with an RBI.
Following Sunday's game against Cal Lutheran, the Pirates will face Eastern Washington at Merkel Field in a exhibition doubleheader next weekend. Coach Ramsay noted the value of the opening weekend of competition.
"Opening weekend always gives us a chance to gauge where we are at and get an idea of what we need to work on in the weeks leading up to conference play," Ramsay said. "Our arms are settling in and our guys are getting more consistent live plate appearances. It also allows some of our young guys to get their feet wet and grow comfortable with the speed of the college game."
