NEWBERG, Ore. - Whitworth scored seven early runs and homered three times in the series finale to avoid a sweep with a 9-2 win over George Fox on Sunday at Morse Athletic Field.

No. 14 Whitworth (12-2, 4-2 Northwest Conference) equaled its combined run total from Saturday's doubleheader by the third inning on Sunday and all 11 Whitworth batters to the plate during the game recorded at least one hit against George Fox (10-7, 6-3 NWC). Jeremy Druffel, JT Phelan and Joel Condreay each homered on Sunday for the Pirates, who bounced back after suffering their first defeats of the season on Saturday.  

Following a leadoff single by Nicholas Nerud in the first inning, Druffel belted a two-run home run to give Whitworth a lead before an out was recorded in the game. The home run extended his hitting streak to 27 games and was his team-leading fourth of the season. Matthew Nelson and Phelan both reached base following Druffel before George Fox starter Liam Kent recorded three consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.

The Whitworth lead extended to 6-0 with four runs during the second inning, highlighted by an inside-the-park home run from Phelan.

Nate Lamberty walked to begin the second inning and Skyler Lookabill followed with a bunt single before both runners advanced with a sacrifice bunt from Nerud. Druffel once again delivered a RBI hit with a single to center field. Lamberty scored easily and Lookabill also slid home safely on the play, taking advantage of an errant throw from center field back to the infield.

Phelan's second home run of the season came with two outs in the second inning on a ball hit deep to center field. Bruins' center fielder Gabe Louthan attempted to make a catch with a full-speed pursuit but collided with the wall and the ball bounced toward right field. Phelan was able to race around the bases for the inside-the-park home run without a throw to the plate due to the injury on the play.

In the third inning, Jordan McGowan led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Lamberty for a 7-0 Whitworth lead.

Kaddyn Nannini hit a solo home run to put George Fox on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. The Bruins came within 7-2 when Riley McKean reached safely on a bases-loaded infield single during the seventh inning but Arory Milyard then entered the game and recorded a strikeout to prevent further damage.

Condreay added a two-run home run, his first of the season, in the eighth inning for the 9-2 lead.

Whitworth starter Ryan Kingma improved to 3-0, allowing two earned runs on nine hits over 6 ⅔ innings pitched. Milyard went 2 ⅓ innings to finish the game, allowing one batter to reach via a hit by pitch but retiring every other batter he faced.

Kent (0-3) allowed seven runs over 6 ⅓ innings pitched and took the loss.

Druffel went 2 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. No other Pirate had more than one hit, but Whitworth's balanced offense produced 12 hits as all nine starters along with two replacements each recorded a hit.

Whitworth faces Lewis & Clark tomorrow in a non-conference game at 3 p.m. before returning home to host Pacific Lutheran at Merkel Field next weekend.