By: Katelyn McLean

Student Writer

SPOKANE Wash. -- Willamette's high-powered offense led by Luke Werkmeister-Martin and Joey Faudskar lifted the visiting Bearcats over Whitworth 12-9 and 11-3 on Sunday to sweep the Northwest Conference baseball series at Merkel Field.

Willamette comes out of the series 19-9 overall and 13-7 in the NWC. The Pirates fall to 6-17 overall and 5-11 in conference play. Whitworth travels to Newberg, Oregon next weekend for a four-game series with George Fox.

Game One: Willamette 12, Whitworth 9

Despite an early offensive start and a five-run fifth inning for the Pirates, Willamette's explosive offense behind Joey Faudskar's two hits, two runs scored and five RBIs lifted the Bearcats over Whitworth in game one.

The Pirates got on the board early in the first when a Luke Bruno sacrifice fly scored Aidan Morrison.

Willamette answered in the second inning with a two-run home run by Faudskar that gave the Bearcats a 2-1 lead.

The Bearcats extended their lead in the third inning when Samuel Daly doubled down the left field line to drive in a run. Willamette led 4-1 in the fourth inning after a Jeff Hoffman solo home run.

Jaxsen Sweum answered with a solo home run for Whitworth in the fourth to chip away at the Willamette lead.

Whitworth found its offensive groove in the fifth inning, starting with a Dawson Warner double that scored David Bedell and Gage Gibson to tie the game. The Pirates took the lead when Joe Howell scored on a throwing error. Doubles from Sweum and Brenden Duncan extended the Pirates' lead to 7-4.

The Bearcats scored four runs in the seventh to regain the lead, beginning with a bases-loaded walk by Ethan Fischel. Michael Nelsen scored on a wild pitch to bring Willamette within one run and Hoffman singled to left field to drive in two runs, putting the Bearcats up 8-7.

The Pirates took the lead back in the eighth inning with back-to-back home runs from Gibson and Bedell to go up 9-8.

Willamette tied the score in the ninth on a solo home run from Daly, then won with a three-run home run by Faudskar, his second of the game.

Hunter Dryden (1-1) was the losing pitcher for Whitworth, giving up four runs on three hits in the ninth inning. The Pirates used six pitchers in game one.

Matt Pisacane (2-0) got the win for Willamette as the Bearcats scored the go-ahead runs in top of the ninth. He gave up two runs on five hits in two innings. Brady Joyner was credited with a save after not allowing a hit or a run in the ninth.

Game Two: Willamette 11, Whitworth 3

Werkmeister-Martin recorded three hits, three runs scored, and four RBIs in a rout of the Pirates.

The Bearcats started their offense early when Little scored on a passed ball to give Willamette a 1-0 lead. Werkmeister-Martin scored on a Fischel groundout to go up 2-0 then homered in the second inning to score three runs and push the Bearcats' lead out to 5-0.       

Joe Howell singled in the second inning for Whitworth to score two runs and cut into Willamette's lead 5-2.

Daly hit a solo home run in the third to add a run for the Bearcats.

Werkmeister-Martin singled in the fourth to score a run, and a Daly double scored two runs to put Willamette up 9-2. Fischel singled to score a run and put the Bearcats up 10-2. Willamette added its last run in the fifth with a single from Ethan Dunnam that scored Hoffman.

The Pirates scored a run in the fifth when Sweum reached base on an error, scoring Warner.

Dylan Owen (0-3) got the loss for Whitworth, giving up seven runs (six earned) on four hits in 3.1 innings of work.

Eric Waldichuk (3-2) got the win for Willamette, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings. He struck out 11 Pirates.