FOREST GROVE, ORE – Whitworth beat Pacific 11-6 on Sunday in the final game of a three-game Northwest Conference series at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.

The Pirates (12-3, 3-2 NWC) snapped a 12-game losing streak against the Boxers (12-3, 2-2 NWC), their last win was an 11-9 road victory in 2021.

Efficient offense and a dominant bullpen helped Whitworth avoid the three-game sweep after a pair of collapses in yesterday's doubleheader.

The Bucs' offense got started in the first inning as they have done much of the season. Aidan Morrison hit his fourth home run of the year, a shot to grab the early lead. The Pirates picked up two more runs in the third thanks to a passed ball and a well-executed delayed steal with runners on the corners, and the Pirates led 3-0.

Jett Mai's sacrifice fly out was enough to get Pacific's first run on the board in the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, a Pacific fielding error allowed Jacob Doughty to score, and Aaron Clogston advanced to third base. Elijah Tanner followed with a sacrifice fly out that put the Bucs up 5-1.

Pacific threatened again on CJ Colyer's two-run blast two and Dawson Tokishi's RBI single, cutting the deficit to a run in the fifth.

The Pirates were unwilling to let this one slip away though, pushing across six runs in the eighth and ninth to avoid the sweep. The run was highlighted by Kevin Corder's two-RBI single and Henry Zaske's two-RBI double.

Quentin O'Connor (2-1) made the start for Whitworth, he tossed five innings and allowed four runs, while striking out five. Conner Ashworth was dominant in relief, allowing just a pair of hits through four scoreless innings.

Boxers' starter Shane Melrose pitched four innings and allowed four earned runs on just one hit.

Whitworth hosts Willamette next weekend for another important conference series, the first pitch of game one is set for noon on Saturday.