PARKLAND, Wash. - Whitworth broke a tie with three runs in the sixth inning and continued to pull away during the late innings en route to a 10-4 victory over No. 19 Pacific Lutheran in Saturday's series finale.

The Pirates avoided a sweep after falling twice on Friday, improving to 11-8 overall and 5-4 in the Northwest Conference. The Lutes fell to 14-6 overall and 8-4 in the NWC.

Starting pitcher Cory Mack and reliever Carson Blumenthal combined to hold the Lutes to one earned run on four hits and record 11 strikeouts. Whitworth scored eight runs against the Pacific Lutheran bullpen in a contest that had looked to be a pitchers' duel in the early innings.

The Pirates jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run home run to right field by Jeremy Druffel following a leadoff walk to Dalton Carter.

The Lutes cut the deficit to a run in the second inning after Tyler Thompson led off the inning with a double and Landon Packard followed with another double to score Thompson. Packard advanced to third base on a ground out but Mack used a strikeout and flyout to end the inning.

Pacific Lutheran manufactured a run to tie the game in the fifth inning as Casey Dawes led off with a walk, advanced to third following a pair of groundouts then scored on a passed ball.

The Pirates chased Pacific Lutheran starter Kyle Rossman after five innings and found success against five Pacific Lutheran relievers to pull away for the win. Following walks to Nick Motsinger and Casey Isa in the sixth inning, Carter delivered a run-scoring single to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. Druffel then walked to load the bases before a throwing error by the Lutes' first baseman off a ball hit by Joshua Davis allowed two more runs to score.

Whitworth built the lead to 7-2 in the seventh inning as four consecutive Pirates reached safely with two outs. Brett Moser and Carter each had run-scoring singles in the frame.

The Lutes cut the lead to 7-4 with two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh but Whitworth continued to score, adding a run in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth.

Paul Miller scored Joel Condreay with a two-out double in the eighth inning and the Pirates rallied for three hits in the ninth inning. Back-to-back doubles from Motsinger and Moser plated the first run of the inning and Davis scored Skyler Lookabill with a sacrifice fly later in the frame.

Mack (1-2) pitched well for Whitworth, allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks over 6 ⅔ innings. Blumenthal relieved Mack and picked up his third save of the season by pitching 2 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief, striking out four and allowing just one baserunner via a hit by pitch.  

Carter was 3 for 5 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs for the Pirates while Motsinger finished 3 for 4 with three runs scored and a walk. Druffel (2 for 4, run, two RBIs, two walks) and Moser (2 for 4, run, two RBIs, walk) also helped lead the Pirates.

Packard was 2 for 4 with one RBI to lead the Lutes.

Whitworth returns to Merkel Field next weekend to host Puget Sound in a three-game set.