PORTLAND, Ore. - Thomas Wakem's three-run home run punctuated a four-run ninth inning as Whitworth broke a late tie and extended its winning streak with a 10-6 victory over Lewis & Clark on Monday afternoon at the Huston Sports Complex.

The Pirates (20-8, 11-4 Northwest Conference) reached 20 wins by winning their 10th game in a row and concluded March with a 13-5 record. Whitworth took three conference games from Lewis & Clark (5-25, 2-13) on Saturday and Sunday before completing the sweep with a non-conference win on Monday.

Tied at 6-6 entering the ninth inning, three walks loaded the bases for Matthew Nelson. Nelson broke the tie with a sacrifice fly before Wakem followed with his second home run in as many days to extend the lead.

Carson Blumenthal, who had entered the game in the eighth inning, allowed just one baserunner in the bottom of the ninth inning and preserved the win to improve to 3-0 for the season.

Brett Moser put the Pirates up 1-0 in the first inning with a RBI groundout to score Skyler Lookabill but the Pioneers used two walks, two hit by pitches, one hit and a balk to take a 2-1 in the second inning. A pickoff throw from catcher Nate Lamberty to third baseman Paul Miller ended the inning and limited the damage.

Lookabill brought the score even in the fifth inning, scoring Miller with a sacrifice fly. Miller had singled with one out and stole second before advancing to third base on an infield hit by Lamberty.

Whitworth took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning as Miller singled to score Nelson. Nelson and Spencer Locati had each walked earlier in the inning to begin the rally. A two-out error on a ball hit by Lamberty proved costly for the Pioneers as both Miller and Locati scored on the play for a 5-2 lead.

The Pioneers scored a run on two hits in the seventh frame but Whitworth responded to regain a three-run lead as Miller scored Wakem with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. 

Lewis & Clark had rallied to tie the game with two outs in the eighth inning before the Pirates pulled away the next inning. Following a walk and single to begin the frame, reliever JT Phelan entered the game and struck out the first two batters he faced. But a RBI double by Conner Sick and a two-run single by Bradley Lezak tied the game at 6-6.

Whitworth won while being out-hit for the second consecutive game but walked 10 times after earning nine walks in its last game.

Wakem was 2 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored for the Pirates. Miller was 2 for 3, driving in two runs and scoring twice himself.

T.J. Orchard pitched four scoreless innings in relief of starter Nick Scourey. Tyler VonDracek and Phelan contributed to the relief effort before Blumenthal pitched the final 1 ⅓ innings, allowing only one hit.   

Whitworth returns to Merkel Field and hosts nationally-ranked Linfield in a three-game series on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4.