SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth celebrated Senior Day with a 14-0 win over visiting Puget Sound in the final conference game of the season on Sunday at Merkel Field.
Whitworth improved to 10-25 overall and 7-17 in conference play. Puget Sound fell to 18-14 overall and finished conference play 12-12, missing the NWC tournament by one game.
Tim Gee had four of the Pirates' 19 hits, including his first career home run, and four runs batted in, while pitcher Hunter Dryden allowed only two hits over eight shutout innings.
The Pirates scored three runs in the second inning when Gee hit his first collegiate home run, a three-run shot to right center.
In the third inning, Henry Zaske notched his first home run, adding two more runs to the lead. Gee followed with his fourth RBI of the day on a double to left center.
Whitworth increased the lead to 8-0 in the fourth with Jacob Doughty's RBI double, and after Dawson Warner scored on an error.
Cameron Ley hit his first home run as a Pirate in the fifth inning to make the score 10-0. Doughty quickly followed with his second home run of the weekend; a solo shot to right field.
The Bucs' explosive offense continued in the seventh when Austin Paul homered for two RBI's and Elijah Tanner recorded an RBI on a groundout.
Puget Sound's Dylan Joyce (1-3) started on the mound, going 2.2 innings while allowing seven hits and six runs. The Loggers used five pitchers from the bullpen to finish the game.
Dryden (5-2) was in complete control, throwing only 88 pitches over eight innings. He struck out four and walked only one batter. Aidan Smith recorded the final three outs in relief, giving up one hit.
The Bucs will travel to Forest Grove, Oregon on April 29th and 30th to play a non-conference weekend against NWC opponents. On Saturday they will play UPS again (11:00 am) and also Willamette (4:00 pm). Whitworth finishes the season against host Pacific on Sunday.
