SALEM, Ore. - Willamette's offense got off to a hot start in the first inning and never looked back, burying visiting Whitworth 10-3 on Sunday in the finale of a Northwest Conference baseball series.

The Pirates fall to 4-19 overall and 3-9 in the NWC. The Bearcats improve to 11-8 overall and 6-3 in the NWC.

Colt Corrigan supplied Whitworth's only runs of the day when back-to-back singles from Aidan Morrison and Jaxsen Sweum set up a three-run home run to left field in the top of the first.

Willamette responded in the bottom of the first inning when a Trey Topping single scored two runs. The next at-bat, Layton Wagner hit a three-run home run to take a 5-3 lead.

The Bearcats added one more run to their total in the second inning when an Ethan Fischel groundout scored Ryan Whithorn.

In the bottom of the third, a back-to-back walk and hit by pitch set up a Samuel Daly three-run shot to left field. Starting pitcher Josh Grimes was pulled from the game in favor of Dylan Owen.

Willamette scored their final run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Fischel doubled and scored Ethan Dunham.

Starter Josh Grimes (0-4) gave up nine run (eight earned) on five hits and three walks in two-plus innings pitched, picking up the loss for the Pirates. Owen gave up only two hits and zero runs in five innings of relief.

Closer Ben Kowalski (2-0) picked up the pitching win for the Bearcats, pitching two shutout relief innings and striking out three batters. Willamette used a total of five pitchers in the game. Starter Chase Banks gave up six hits and three earned runs in two innings of work.

The Pirates are back at Merkel Field to take on George Fox on March 26 at noon and 3pm, and March 27 at noon.