SPOKANE, Wash. - Daniel Casanova and JT Phelan both homered twice as Whitworth scored early and often in each game, extending its win streak to seven games and earning a doubleheader sweep over visiting Lewis & Clark on Friday at Merkel Field. Whitworth took the opener, 12-0, before winning the nightcap, 12-4.
No. 10 Whitworth (19-4, 11-3 NWC) scored 17 of its 24 runs on the day in the first three innings of the two games against Lewis & Clark (11-17, 3-11). Casanova led off the bottom of the first inning in each game with a home run, while Phelan homered twice in the second game.
The Pirates will go for a sweep of the three-game series on Saturday at noon.
Game 1: Whitworth 12, Lewis & Clark 0
Hugh Smith allowed just three hits over eight innings pitched and a six-run second inning helped fuel the offense as Whitworth collected its first shutout victory of the season in the opener.
Casanova belted his first home run of the season to left field in the first inning before the Pirates put together six hits in the second frame. The first five batters to the plate in the second inning collected hits for Whitworth, highlighted by RBI doubles from Joel Condreay and Garrett Hughes. Hughes' double pushed the lead to 4-0 and Casanova followed with a run-scoring groundout before Jeremy Druffel produced the Pirates' third RBI double of the inning to plate Hughes. A sacrifice fly by Matthew Nelson built the advantage to 7-0 after two innings.
Phelan drove in Casanova with an RBI single in the fourth and Jacob Yamane added an RBI single in the sixth to score Nelson for a 9-0 lead.
A three-run eighth inning extended the advantage to 12-0. Tyler Bailey tripled to start the inning and scored when Yamane reached via an infield single. Anthony Bonilla recorded an RBI single later in the frame and Casanova added a sacrifice fly as the Pirates collected four hits in the inning.
Smith (4-0) fanned a career-high seven batters, allowing one hit apiece in the first, sixth and seventh innings. He walked two but has only allowed a total of five walks all season. Smith set down 10 Pioneers in a row between the third and sixth innings. Taylor Hillmick pitched the last inning in relief.
Aaron Landecker (2-4) took the loss, allowing 14 hits and eight runs over four innings pitched.
Six Pirates had at least two hits as Whitworth collected a season-high 19 hits. Druffel went 3-for-5 with a run scored and one RBI while Yamane finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Casanova was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored while McGowan went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Nate Lamberty was 2-for-4 with two runs scored -- he recorded hits in each of his first two at-bats as part of a 6-for-6 spurt dating back to the Pirates' last game against Puget Sound.
Game 2: Whitworth 12, Lewis & Clark 4
The Pirates scored seven runs in the first inning and Phelan homered twice as part of a five-RBI performance in helping Whitworth jump ahead 10-0 after three innings en route to a commanding win.
Casanova began the first inning during the nightcap almost exactly as he did in the opener, smacking a home run to left field for the early 1-0 lead. After Nelson reached via an error with one out, Phelan connected for a two-run home run to left field.
Two base hits and a walk loaded the bases for Hughes with two outs later in the inning, and Hughes scored all three runners with a double to the gap in left-center field. Casanova then singled up the middle for his second RBI hit of the frame and a 7-0 lead.
Phelan homered for the second consecutive frame during the second inning, belting his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot, to left field with one out. Lamberty added an RBI single later in the inning for a 9-0 advantage.
McGowan delivered an RBI single in the third inning for a 10-0 lead. After two outs to start the inning, Nelson singled and Phelan was hit by a pitch before both runners advanced with a wild pitch to set the stage for McGowan.
The Pioneers cut into the deficit with a two-run home run from Nick Lockwood in the sixth inning, launched over the high wall in right field. Conner Sick scored Bradley Lezak with a single in the seventh to bring the Pioneers within 10-3 before Whitworth answered with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Phelan continued his productive afternoon with a two-out, two-RBI double for the 12-3 advantage. Earlier in the inning, a walk to Skyler Lookabill came before Nelson was hit by a pitch and both scored via Phelan's hit.
Tommy Massari doubled home Christian Macdonald in the eighth, but the Pioneers could not do any further damage.
T.J. Orchard started and improved to 4-0, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits. He struck out two and did not allow a walk. Connor Sand tossed 1 ⅔ innings of relief, allowing one earned run on five hits with one strikeout. Kelly Fitzpatrick relieved Sand in the ninth and retired all three batters he faced, including two via strikeout.
Nathan Klein (3-3) gave up nine runs (four earned) in 1 ⅔ innings pitched. Jeramy Albert threw 6 1/3 innings of relief, allowing three earned runs on five hits.
Phelan finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored while McGowan was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Condreay went 3-for-5 with a run scored and Casanova was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
