SPOKANE, Wash. – Visiting Pacific's four-run ninth inning put Whitworth away 5-1 in the final game of a Northwest Conference baseball series on Sunday at Merkel Field.
Whitworth (6-14, 3-6 NWC) fell to seventh place in the Northwest Conference standings, while Pacific (14-5, 11-2 NWC) remains in first place.
The Boxers broke a 1-1 tie with four-runs in the ninth inning to grab a series sweep against the Bucs.
The Pirates scored the first run of the game in the third inning when Dawson Warner led off with a single and later scored on Aidan Morrison's single to left center.
The Bucs' lead lasted until the eighth inning when a solo home run from CJ Colyer tied it all up. Pacific's offensive momentum continued into the ninth when they exploded for four runs. The damage came on Dawson Tokishi's two RBI single to right field. Ty Yukumoto and Andrew Thomas each followed with an RBI of their own.
The Pirates were unable to make up the deficit in the final frame, losing 5-1.
Pacific's starting pitcher Hunter Edwards pitched three innings allowing one run on five hits. David Allen (1-0) recorded the win in relief.
Whitworth's Hunter Dryden had another strong start with six scoreless innings pitched on three hits and ten strikeouts. Aidan Smith (1H, 1ER) and Riley Whelan (L, 1-2, 0H, 2ER) each threw one inning in relief. Josh Grimes and Dylan Bishop combined to finish the last inning.
Jacob Doughty and Warner led the Pirates' offense with two hits apiece.
Whitworth will travel to Salem, Oregon next weekend to start a Northwest Conference series against Willamette University.
