By: Katelyn McLean
Student Writer

SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University rallied from four runs behind in both games to sweep a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader from visiting Pacific Lutheran on Saturday at Merkel Field.  The Pirates won the opener 11-7 and the nightcap 10-7.

Whitworth (11-18, 10-12 NWC) takes on the Lutes (18-11, 14-7 NWC) again tomorrow in another doubleheader at Merkel Field beginning at 11:00 am with the hope to sweep the series and even their conference record.

Game One: Whitworth 11, Pacific Lutheran 7
Whitworth pulled off a come-from-behind win on the backs of Dawson Warner's two hits and four runs-batted-in, and David Bedell's four hits and four RBIs.

Pacific Lutheran scored four in the top of the first. Jordan Haworth hit a two-run home run to put the Lutes up 2-0. An Ashton Barton double drove in two more.

The Pirates answered in the second inning with solo home runs from Gage Gibson and Ryan Gross to chip away at the Pacific Lutheran lead 4-2.

The Lutes added one more run in the third when Sean Kauffman hit into a double play but scored Cole Trotignon to lead 5-2.

Whitworth scored the next nine runs to go up 11-5. Gibson hit a sacrifice fly in the third to drive in Jaxen Sweum. A Warner ground-out in the fourth scored Joe Howell, bringing the Pirates within one.

A Bedell RBI single tied the game at five in the fifth inning, and a Warner single scored two runs to take the lead 7-5. Warner singled again in the seventh inning to advance Aidan Morrison and Howell, and then Howell scored on an error.

Bedell added a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to cap off the scoring run by the Pirates.   Bedell had a single, double, and a home run in game one, just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

The Lutes attempted to rally in the ninth with a double by pinch-hitter Armond Swanson that scored two runs but fell short.

Josh Grimes (3-1) settled down after the rough first inning and was the winning pitcher, giving up ten hits and five runs in 5.1 innings.          Brett Thomas was credited with a save, allowing three hits and two runs, and recording four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief.

Spencer Howell (1-1) was the losing pitcher, giving up four hits and three runs in 1.1 innings of relief.

Game Two: Whitworth 10, Pacific Lutheran 7
After giving up four runs in the first two innings, the Pirates scored five runs in the fourth inning to edge the Lutes.

Pacific Lutheran scored four runs to open up the game. Haworth hit into a double play in the first but scored a run to take an early lead. Cody Bentley hit a solo home run in the second to go up 2-0, and Garrett Wong scored on a wild pitch from Dylan Bishop to extend the lead. A Kauffman sacrifice fly scored another run to finish out the inning.

Whitworth cut into the Lute lead when Aidan Morrison doubled with the bases-loaded to drive in two. Jarred Yara scored on an error by the outfielder to make the score 4-3 in the second inning.

The Pirates took the lead in the fourth inning when Yara reached base and advanced to third on an error. Gibson scored on the error, and then Yara scored on a wild pitch after a Morrison walk. Warner singled to left field to score Morrison, and Sweum doubled to score two runs, putting Whitworth up 8-4.

The Lutes responded with a Bentley three-run home run that brought them within one run, 8-7.

Whitworth sealed the victory in the sixth when Sweum hit a sacrifice fly to score Morrison, and Brendan Duncan doubled to score Warner.

Evan Norden (1-2) was the winning pitcher, giving up two hits and three runs in one inning in relief of Dylan Bishop, who went four.  Hunter Dryden was credited with the save, giving up three hits and no runs in two innings.

Justin Tucker (4-2) was the losing pitcher, giving up three hits and five runs in 3.1 innings.