KERRVILLE, Tex – Whitworth University continued perfect start to the 2024 baseball season after two more wins in Saturday's doubleheader against Schreiner at Bob Henry Field.
Whitworth improved to 6-0 for the first time since the Pirates started the 2016 season with an 11-0 mark with 7-1 and 8-2 wins over the Mountaineers. The teams will complete the four-game series with a single contest that begins at 9:00 am on Sunday.
Game 1 – Whitworth 7, Schreiner 1 (7 Innings)
Starting pitcher Jack Leary (1-0) controlled the Mountaineers' lineup through all seven innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out nine. The game was previously decided to conclude after seven innings, making Leary's efforts the first complete game by a Pirate this season.
Whitworth got on the board in the top of the first thanks to a dropped fly ball with the bases loaded that allowed all three runs to score unearned.
The Mountaineers' scored their first and only run of the game on a bases-loaded wild pitch in the third frame.
Henry Zaske singled in the fourth inning and later scored on a passed ball to increase the lead to 4-1.
An RBI single by Ty Komoda and Austin Paul's two RBI double in the sixth inning were the final punches thrown by the Pirates' offense.
Eight Pirates recorded a hit in part of their 10-hit offensive showing.
Trey Bennett (0-2), Schreiner's starting pitcher, threw five innings and allowed five hits and four runs (none earned). Reliever Justin Gallegos gave up three runs in two innings pitched.
Game 2 – Whitworth 8, Schreiner 2
Stellar defense and a big four-run eighth inning helped seal the deal in game two of Saturday's doubleheader.
The Pirates scored first in the second inning after Kevin Corder led off the inning with a double and came around to score on Zaske's RBI groundout.
Gerardo Cardoza responded for Schreiner with an RBI double in the bottom half of the third to tie up the game.
A three-run fourth inning for the Bucs was highlighted by Ty Quiggle's two RBI single with the bases loaded and two outs.
After the Mountaineers tacked on their second run of the game on Cardoza's RBI single, Whitworth still led 4-2.
In the top of the eighth the Pirates loaded the bases with three hit batters in a row. Shipman's sacrifice fly and Aaron Clogston's big two RBI single gave the Bucs their first comfortable lead of the game in the eighth inning. The Bucs led 8-2 when the inning concluded.
Schreiner threatened one last time in the ninth inning when they loaded the bases with one out, but Whitworth turned their fourth double play of the game to end it.
Quentin O'Conner started for the Pirates and dealt four innings of one run baseball. Seth Mahler (2-0) was first in relief allowing one run in 1.1 innings. Hunter Williams (2.2 IP, 2 H, 4 SO) and Tyler VanCise (1.0 IP, 2H) were used to shut the door.
The Mountaineers' starter Daniel Cardenas (0-2) went 3.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits. Luke Rodgers (4IP, 3ER) and Max Sauceda (1.2IP, 1ER) were used in relief.
Schreiner fell to 2-7 this season.
