PORTLAND, Ore. - Cory Mack gave Whitworth another exceptional starting pitching performance and the Pirates came from behind to capture their ninth consecutive win with a 5-2 victory at Lewis & Clark on Sunday afternoon.

Conference-leading Whitworth (19-8, 11-4 Northwest Conference) swept its second straight NWC series and will play Lewis & Clark (5-24, 2-13) in a non-conference contest on Monday at 4 p.m.

Mack (3-2) went eight innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits. He struck out three batters, walking two and hitting one batter with a pitch. Mack's eight-inning start followed a complete game effort in his last outing and was the third consecutive start of eight innings or longer by a Whitworth pitcher.

Lewis & Clark found some success early against Mack but was held scoreless after the second inning. The Pioneers took their first lead of the series in the second with a two-run home run by Tommy Massari to center field.

But Whitworth responded the next inning, trimming the lead to 2-1 when Dalton Carter grounded into a fielder's choice and scored Nick Motsinger. JT Phelan had led off the third inning with a single before Motsinger reached on a fielder's choice and Casey Isa walked to advance Motsinger into scoring position.  

A pair of walks and a hit by pitch filled the bases with Pirates in the fourth inning. A bases-loaded walk to Motsinger with two outs tied the game at 2-2.

Thomas Wakem broke the tie with a two-out, two-run home run to left-center field in the seventh inning, his second of the season. The Pirates took advantage of a throwing error by the Pioneers to add another run in the eighth inning.

Within three outs of his second consecutive complete game, Mack allowed a leadoff double in the ninth inning and was replaced by closer Carson Blumenthal. Lewis & Clark loaded the bases with two outs but a groundout ended the game and Blumenthal earned his fifth save of the season.

The Pirates totaled just five hits in the game and were out-hit by the Pioneers but took advantage of two Lewis & Clark errors, walked nine times and had two batters hit by a pitch.

Jeremy Druffel was 2 for 5 while Motsinger had one RBI and two runs scored.

Massari was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Pioneers.

Following the game against Lewis & Clark on Monday, Whitworth returns home to host nationally-ranked Linfield on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4.