By: Katelyn McLean
Student Writer

NEWBERG, Ore.—Whitworth rallied behind home runs from Grayson O'Neil and David Jorgensen to win an extra-innings opener 11-8, but fell to George Fox 9-7 in a back-and-forth nightcap behind Spencer Roos' two hits and three runs batted in.

The Pirates (9-18, 8-12 NWC) win the four-game series 3-1 and return to Merkel Field next weekend for a four-game series against Pacific Lutheran (18-9, 14-5 NWC).  The Bruins are now 15-12, 10-9.

Game One: Whitworth 11, George Fox 8
After trailing 7-2 heading to the eighth, Whitworth scored four runs in the ninth inning and three runs in the eleventh inning to edge George Fox in an extra-innings game one.

The Pirates got on the board with a David Bedell two-run home run to take a 2-0 lead in the first.  The Bruins answered in the second inning when a Spencer Roos groundout scored Chase Fetzer.

George Fox took the lead in the third inning when a Brandon King single scored Marc Audet, and Jared Gee scored on an infield error. Jeremy Sangalang scored on a fielder's choice and Brandon King scored on a sacrifice fly to put the Bruins up 5-2.

Sangalang singled in the fourth to score two runs and extend the George Fox lead 7-2.

Grayson O'Neil's two-run homer in the eighth cut the lead to 7-4.

The Pirates rallied in the ninth when Jaxen Sweum scored on an infield error and Bedell scored on a wild pitch. Dawson Warner doubled to drive in two runs and Whitworth took an 8-7 lead.

The Bruins tied it up in the bottom of the ninth when Sangalang scored on an error to send the game to extra innings.

The Pirates took the lead in the eleventh inning when Ryan Gross scored on a wild pitch, and David Jorgensen sealed the Whitworth victory with a two-run home run.

Hunter Dryden (2-1) was the winning pitcher, allowing zero hits or runs in 1.2 innings. Dryden had only one walk and recorded four strikeouts.  Five Pirates saw action on the mound, but the Whitworth bullpen allowed only one run over the final eight frames.

Austin Hallman (0-2) was the losing pitcher, giving up one hit and three runs in the final inning.

Game Two: George Fox 9, Whitworth 7
Despite a four-run fifth inning for Whitworth, George Fox came out on top in a see-saw night cap behind Spencer Roos' two hits and three runs-batted in.

Whitworth jumped out to the lead in the first inning when Bedell scored on a Warner sacrifice fly.

George Fox took the lead back in the second inning when Spencer Roos doubled to score two runs.

The Pirates regained their lead in the third inning when Sweum doubled to score Warner and Luke Bruno scored on a ground out. 

The Bruins answered with a two-run home run by Fetzer to go up 4-3 in the third and extended the lead in the fourth inning on a King RBI single.

Whitworth added four more runs in the fifth inning when Sweum scored on a bases-loaded balk by Bradley Emmens. Ethan Rosario's two-run single followed and Jorgensen scored on a sacrifice fly by Aidan Morrsion to put the Pirates up 7-5.

The Bruins surged ahead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Derek Williams doubled to score a run.  Williams scored on a Roos sacrifice fly to tie the game, and a King RBI single gave the Bruins the lead. King then scored an insurance run on a balk, putting the Bruins up 9-7.

Joey Del Carlo (0-2) was the losing pitcher for Whitworth, giving up three hits and two runs in 0.2 innings.

Isaac Olson (2-1) was the winning pitcher, giving up zero runs and only three hits in 2.2 innings.