WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Hunter Dryden pitched into the seventh inning and Dawson Warner drove in what became the winning run as Whitworth ended a 10-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over Whitman in the opener of a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader at Borleske Stadium. The Blues won the nightcap 4-1.
The Pirates (2-11, 1-1) played as the home team after the games were moved to Whitman's field (2-8, 2-3) because of unplayable conditions at Merkel Field on Whitworth's campus.
The teams are scheduled to complete the series on March 16 in Spokane.
The Pirates head to McMinnville, Oregon next weekend for a three-game series at Linfield.
Game 1 – Whitworth 3, Whitman 2
Hunter Dryden threw 6.1 strong innings and the Pirates took advantage of some sloppy defense to score two unearned runs early in the game.
The Pirates scored in the first inning. Jacob Doughty singled, and then advanced to second and third on back-to-back errors, putting him in position to score on a Jaxsen Sweum sacrifice fly.
Whitworth added to their total in the fifth inning when Dawson Warner reached and then advanced on an error. Sweum also reached base on an error, scoring Warner from third, increasing the lead to 2-0.
Whitman cracked the no-hitter open in the sixth inning, with a one out solo home run by Ben Parker. The Blues had two more hits back-to-back, but Dryden finished the inning after a mound visit to minimize the damage.
The Pirates responded in the bottom of the sixth inning when Warner singled to score Jeremiah Kennell to take a 3-1 lead.
The Blues tallied their last run of the game in the eighth when two singles and a walk loaded the bases. Michael Doyle was hit by a pitch to drive in a run.
Julien Hernandez (4-4) picked up the pitching loss in 5.2 innings, giving up four hits and three runs. He had five walks
Dryden (1-2) picked up his first pitching win of the season, allowing one earned run on four hits, walking four batters and recording seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings. He no-hit the Blues through the first five innings. Riley Whelan threw the final two innings to earn a save. He allowed no runs on one hit with three strikeouts.
Game 2 – Whitman 4, Whitworth 1
Dexter Aichele threw seven innings of shutout pitching to help the Blues win the nightcap.
The Blues scored in the top of the first inning when Drew Vannaman singled and then stole second, advanced to third, and then stole home while Parker stole second. Vannaman's two-run double made it 3-0 in the second inning.
A single, walk, and passed ball loaded the bases, and Parker reached base on an error, scoring Doyle for a 4-0 Whitman lead in the fourth.
Dexter Aichele (1-3) was almost unhittable through seven shutout innings, allowing three hits, two walks, and notching nine strikeouts.
Whitworth scored its only run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Benjamin Seashore-Hobson. A Luke Bruno sacrifice fly scored Aidan Morrison, but the Pirates were unable to score any more runs in the inning.
Austin Rice (0-3) was the losing pitcher, allowing four hits and four runs, two of them earned. He tallied three walks and three strikeouts. Jack Leary pitched 5.2 scoreless relief innings, tallying four strikeouts.
