PORTLAND, Ore. – JJ Fahnlander drove in four runs as visiting Whitworth navigated a long rain delay and a change of venue to earn its first Northwest Conference series victory since early March with a 5-2 win over Lewis & Clark on Saturday. 

The game started at L&C, but ended at Linfield College in McMinnville.  Linfield was also where the Bucs won their only other NWC series of the season.

The Pirates (9-26 overall, 8-16 NWC) will still finish last in the NWC standings for the first time in school history.  The Pioneers are 20-16, 11-12 with one more NWC game to play.

Whitworth took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third.  Dawson Warner's single led to the first run.  JJ Fahnlander followed with a three-run home run to left center field.

Luke Bass scored on a wild pitch for the Pioneers in the fourth inning, but Fahnlander's RBI single in the top of the fifth extended the margin back to four runs (5-1).

Justin Cavagnaro scored on another wild pitch for the Pioneers in the bottom of the sixth.  Those were the only runs allowed by Hunter Dryden (3-4), who limited L&C to three hits and five walks in 5.1 innings.  He struck out six batters.

Whitworth got excellent work from Dylan Owen and Riley Whelan, who combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings of relief.  Whelan picked up his first save.

Casey Parsons (2-3) started on the mound for L&C, while Kris Wuelfing threw the final four frames.

The Pirates will conclude the season with three non-conference games in Walla Walla on April 30-May 1, including a pair against La Verne (Calif.) and one against Whitman.