FOREST GROVE, ORE – Whitworth dropped both games of a conference double header on Saturday, falling 8-7 and 11-6 against Pacific University at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
The Pirates (11-3, 2-2 NWC) had a 7-0 lead in game one and 4-0 lead in game two but both were erased as the Boxers (12-2, 2-1 NWC) calmly worked their way back in to move past Whitworth in the league standings. The series finale will be played on Sunday, as Whitworth looks to avoid the series sweep.
Game 1- Whitworth 7, Pacific 8
Two late-inning home runs help the Boxers erase a seven-run deficit and complete a stunning comeback in game one of the series.
Whitworth starting pitcher Hunter Dryden allowed five runs in 5.1 innings pitched while striking out eight. Reliever Hunter Williams (1-1) went the final 3.1 innings and gave up three runs on 5 hits.
Will Clark started for the Boxers and pitched 2.2 innings while allowing three earned runs. Relievers Ayden Ruminski (3IP, 2R, 2H) and Governor Aufranc (1.1IP, 0R, 2SO) were used in the middle innings before Joey Harmon (1-0) pitched the final two innings while giving up just one hit and striking out four.
Elijah Tanner's RBI single to right field was the spark toward a big five-run effort in the third inning. A series of errors by the Boxers were capitalized on by Kevin Corder and Ty Quiggle who both recorded RBIs in the inning.
Whitworth's offensive showing continued with Aidan Morrison's two RBI single to left field in the fourth inning.
The Boxers offense showed signs of life when Jett Mai singled for an RBI and Pacific's first run of the game in the fifth inning. The score was evened 7-7 in the sixth inning after Vincent Lagatta hit a grand slam and Walker Matthews followed with a two-run shot to right field. Mai's walk off RBI single to left field in the ninth inning was enough to defeat the Pirates 8-7.
Game 2 – Whitworth 6, Pacific 11
Whitworth's offense came out of the gates with vengeance, Henry Zaske's RBI single and Ty Quiggle's three RBI double gave the Bucs' an early 4-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
The Bucs' allowed a run in the bottom of the first inning after CJ Colyer struck out and reached on a pass ball, Ty Yukumoto was able to score on the play. In the second inning, Matthews tripled to left field and later came around to score on pass ball to tie the game at 4-4.
Pacific gained the lead and recorded their third home run on the day with Colyer's two run blast to left field in the fourth inning. The Boxers continued to add to their lead in the next three innings, after a sequence of impressive hitting to take a 9-4 lead.
In the eighth inning the Pirates picked up a single run on a wild pitch, but the Boxers fired right back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Whitworth's Seth Mahler doubled to left field for an RBI in the ninth inning, but it was too little to late.
Jack Leary pitched two innings for the Pirates and allowed three earned runs on three hits. First out of the bullpen was Tyler Vancise (0-1), who completed 3.2 innings and gave up five runs. Aidan Smith (2IP, 2R) and Evan Williamson (0.1IP, 0H) were used to complete the final frames.
Boxers' Chance Wallace tossed the first three inning while allowing four runs on five hits. In relief, Hunter Edwards (1-0) pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball while fanning three batters. Davis Koester (SV 1) was used to shut the door in the final 3.2 innings while giving up just one earned.
