Forest Grove, Ore – Whitworth split on Saturday in a pair of non-conference against Northwest Conference members Puget Sound and Willamette. The Pirates defeated Puget Sound 9-7 in 14 innings at Pacific University's Chuck Bafaro Stadium in Forest Grove, Ore. The Bucs then travelled to John Lewis Field in Salem, Ore and lost 14-3 at Willamette.
The Pirates record moved to 11-26 overall while Puget Sound fell to 18-15 and Willamette improved to 21-14. The Pirates will be back in Forest Grove tomorrow to face off against Pacific University in the last game of the season.
Game 1 – Whitworth 9, Puget Sound 7
The Pirates were able to push across two runs in extra innings to outlast the Loggers in a 14 inning affair.
Gabe Huante got Puget Sound's offense going in the first inning with an RBI single and later came around to score for an early 2-0 lead. Huante recorded his second RBI of the game in the third inning to increase the Logger's lead.
Whitworth was silent until the seventh inning when Hunter Dryden hit a three-run home run that tied up the game.
Puget Sound quickly responded with a four-run bottom half, which included a Dylan Joyce home run.
Jacob Doughty's power streak continued for the Bucs as he homered in his third straight game in the eighth inning to cut the Loggers lead to 7-4. The Pirates added one more in the inning on an infield error that allowed Dawson Warner to score.
In the ninth inning with two outs, Doughty singled for two more RBI's to tie up the game. Puget Sound was unable to score in the bottom half of the inning forcing extras.
The Pirates scored two runs for the win in the 14th inning on Aaron Clogston's fielders choice and Aidan Morrison's sacrifice fly.
Puget Sound's starter Brett Harvey went 7.1 innings allowing four earned runs on six hits.
Whitworth starting pitcher Dylan Bishop gave up three earned runs on eleven hits in six innings. Five Pirates worked in relief. Josh Grimes (1-0) got the win with three shutout innings.
Game 2 – Willamette 14 , Whitworth 5
The Bearcats hammered out 17 hits. The real damage was done in the fifth inning when they were able to plate six runs on three hits in the innings. The Bearcat's offense was led by Rocco Granucci, going 3 for 4 with four RBI's
Whitworth's offense showed late life in the ninth inning down by eleven when they loaded the bases and scored two runs but were unable to keep the rally going, losing 14-5.
Riley Cissne led Whitworth's offense going 1 for 2 and recorded three RBI's.
Willamette's Steven Verespey went six innings, giving up three runs and three hits in the start.
Boe Hesse (0-3) started for the Pirates, allowing three earned runs on eight hits in four innings. Three Pirates worked in relief.
