By: Katelyn McLean
Student Writer

SPOKANE, Wash.-- David Bedell provided a walkoff hit in the opener and was one of three Pirates to homer in the nightcap as Whitworth swept visiting Lewis & Clark, 8-7 and 5-3, in a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader on Thursday at Merkel Field.

Whitworth (16-21, 15-15 NWC) won its fifth straight game and evened its NWC record for the first time this season.  The Pirates take on the Pioneers (7-23 overall and NWC) again tomorrow at noon and 3:00 pm.

A senior recognition ceremony will begin at approximately 11:45am.

Game one: Whitworth 8, Lewis & Clark 7
Bedell's walk-off single with the bases loaded drove in the winning run and capped a rally from 7-4 behind.

Lewis and Clark took the lead when Dylan Moore led off the game with a home run.  The Pioneers added to their lead in the third inning when Sammy Benbow hit a sacrifice fly to score Justin Bailey.

Whitworth tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jaxen Sweum hit a two run-home run. The Pirates took the lead later in the inning when Gage Gibson flied out to center field to score Luke Bruno.

Whitworth took a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning when an Aidan Morrison double scored David Bedell.

Lewis and Clark cut the lead within one on a solo home run from Zack Kon in the top of the sixth inning and tied it when Moore walked with the bases loaded to score Tyler Gannon.

The Pioneers retook the lead in the seventh inning when Sam Helms hit a three-run home run over the left field fence.

The Pirates pulled within one in the bottom of the seventh. After advancing to third on an infield error, Morrison scored on a Gage Gibson single, and a Sweum single scored Joe Howell from second.

Whitworth tied the game in the eighth inning when a Ryan Gross sacrifice fly scored Bedell, who led off the inning with a double.

Dawson Warner singled, Duncan doubled and Sweum was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth.  With one out Bedell hit a ball over the outfielders to drive in Warner.

Whitworth starting pitcher Josh Grimes gave up five hits and three runs and recorded three strikeouts in five innings. Hunter Dryden (3-1) was the winning pitcher, getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth with a strikeout.

LC closer David Moore (0-2) came in to pitch from center field in the bottom of the eighth and was the losing pitcher.

Game two: Whitworth 5, Lewis & Clark 3
The Pirates hit three home runs in a four-run fourth inning to win the nightcap.

Bedell scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the second to get Whitworth on the scoreboard.

Lewis & Clark tied it up in the third inning when Jack Thompson singled to score Blake Tellinghusen.

Whitworth broke the tie in the fourth inning with back-to-back home runs from Sweum and Bedell to go up 3-1. After a Jarred Yara double, Gage Gibson joined the fourth-inning home run club to put the Pirates up 5-1.

The Pioneers rallied in the fifth inning with a Moore RBI single and a Thompson RBI groundout to chip away at the lead 5-3 but failed to complete a comeback.

Brett Pierson (2-5) was the losing pitcher, giving up seven hits and all five runs in six innings.

Dylan Bishop (4-2) pitched 6.2 innings, just one out away from a complete game, and allowed eight hits and three runs. Bishop also had six strikeouts.

Jarred Yara was credited with his second save of the season after he struck out his only batter with the potential tying runs on second and third base.