PARKLAND, Wash. - The pitching staff for No. 19 Pacific Lutheran held visiting Whitworth to two runs and eight hits over two games en route to claiming a pair of close victories on Friday afternoon in western Washington.
Pacific Lutheran took the opener, 4-2, before earning a 2-0 victory in the second game of the series.
Whitworth dropped to 10-8 overall and 4-4 in the Northwest Conference. The Lutes (14-5, 8-3) limited the Pirates to four hits in each game and did not allow any extra-base hits against Whitworth, who entered the weekend hitting .310 as a team and leading the NWC in extra-base hits. The Pacific Lutheran pitching staff combined to total 23 strikeouts during the doubleheader.
The teams had previously decided to begin the three-game series a day earlier than originally scheduled due to inclement weather forecasted for Saturday. Weather permitting, the series finale is scheduled for noon on Saturday.
Game 1: Pacific Lutheran 4, Whitworth 2
A bases-loaded triple by Jacob Clements highlighted a four-run sixth inning and Pacific Lutheran's Chris Bishop held the Pirates in check for seven innings on the mound during the opener.
After collecting only three hits through the first five innings, Pacific Lutheran produced four hits during the sixth inning. Back-to-back singles began the frame before a walk loaded the bases. Clements delivered a three-run triple and scored on a double by Tyler Thompson later in the inning.
Whitworth responded to score a run in the top of the seventh inning as Joel Condreay brought home Thomas Wakem with a two-out RBI single. Wakem had walked and advanced to second base when Nick Motsinger was hit by a pitch. Motsinger advanced to third on Condreay's hit but Bishop got pinch-hitter JT Phelan to pop-up to second base and end the inning.
A leadoff single from Joshua Davis with a two-base error gave the Pirates a good start to the ninth inning and a sacrifice fly from Wakem brought home Davis. But after allowing the sacrifice fly, PLU closer AJ Konopaski struck out the next two batters he faced, preventing further damage and recording his fifth save of the season.
Bishop (3-1) struck out seven while holding the Pirates to a run on three hits over seven innings with two walks.
Scheibe (4-1) went 5 ⅔ innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Tyler VonDracek pitched 2 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief.
Davis was 2 for 4 to lead Whitworth while Condreay finished 1 for 3 and Jeremy Druffel was 1 for 4. Wakem was 0 for 1 but walked twice and recorded a run scored and RBI.
Game 2: Pacific Lutheran 2, Whitworth 0
Starting pitcher Garrett Brown struck out 10 batters over six innings as Whitworth was shutout for the first time in the 2015 season.
A single and a hit by pitch put two runners on base with no outs in the third inning for the Lutes. Following a sacrifice bunt, Clements grounded out to shortstop but a run scored on the play as Pacific Lutheran took a 1-0 lead.
The Lutes added a second run in the seventh inning after Collin Nilson led off with a single, advanced to second via a sacrifice bunt and then scored on an RBI-single from Landon Packard.
Brown struck out the side in the first inning and allowed just two hits during his outing. The Pirates rallied to put runners on first and second with one out in the sixth inning but Brown concluded his performance with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Ty Donahou pitched two scoreless innings before Konopaski earned his sixth save of the season to close out the game.
Brown (2-0) allowed only two hits and three walks. Whitworth starter T.J. Orchard (2-1) lasted 4
⅓ innings, allowing one run on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Nick Scourey allowed a run on three hits over 3 ⅔ innings of relief.
Dalton Carter, Brett Moser, Casey Isa and Condreay each had a hit for the Pirates.
Bo Pearson finished 3 for 4 to lead Pacific Lutheran. Clements and Packard were each 2 for 4 while Jacob Bockelie was 2 for 2.
