SPOKANE, WASH – Whitworth was beaten handily in both games of a Northwest Conference doubleheader against Whitman on Saturday. The Pirates dropped game one 10-4 before being defeated 14-3 in game two at Paul Merkel Field.
Whitworth (18-9, 7-7 NWC) trailed by nine runs in game one and 14 runs in game two, they made up a few runs in each, but Whitman (18-9, 12-5 NWC) left no doubt as they won the series in swift fashion. The Bucs will look to salvage at least one win tomorrow to avoid the sweep, first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon.
Game 1 – Whitman 10, Whitworth 4
The Pirates offense matched the Blues' nine hits but were unable to capitalize, stranding eleven runners on base.
Whitman was first to score on a first and third run down scenario, the Blues' trailing runner was tagged out, but the lead runner was able to score on the play. Halen Otto followed with a solo home run to left field to increase the Blue's lead.
After Austin Paul lead off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch, Aidan Morrison hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to cut Whitman's lead in half. Blues lead 2-1 after one inning of play.
In the second inning, Whitman's Beck Maguire doubled down the right field line for two RBI's. The Blues rallied for five runs in the fourth inning with another RBI double from Maguire, a sacrifice fly out from Garrett Runyan, and Nick Teng's bases loaded three RBI double.
Runyan added another RBI to his total with an RBI double in the sixth inning to give Whitman a 10-2 lead.
Aaron Clogston hit his third home run on the season in the eighth inning; a two-run shot to left field cutting the deficit to six, but the damage was already done.
Quentin O'Connor (5-2) completed three innings and allowed six runs on four hits, Dylan Huntsman pitched four innings of relief while giving up four runs on three hits.
Whitman's starting pitcher Julien Hernandez (5-1) was dominant, allowing just one earned run in seven innings while fanning eight Pirates. Billy Wall pitched two innings of relief and allowed two runs on two hits.
Game 2 – Whitman 14, Whitworth 5
Jack Bickerton hit two homeruns in part of an eight RBI game to fuel another convincing win for Whitman.
Bickerton's first home was a shot down the left field line which got the Blues on the scoreboard in the first frame. His next home run was a three-run blast to straightaway center (his 10th of the season), and that home run sandwiched a two-RBI double which he hit in the second inning. Bickerton finished 4-6 with 8 RBIs, a double and two home runs.
In total Whitman added six in the second inning before piling on five more in the fourth to reach that 14-0 lead. Whitworth picked up two runs in the fifth inning after Seth Mahler singled for two RBI's, but the Pirates trailed 14-2 after the fifth.
The Bucs' continued to fight, and tacked on two more runs on a Bryson Garza RBI single to center field and a RBI single from Dominic Giusti.
Pirates' starter Jack Leary (3-2) allowed nine earned runs on six hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Mason Greene was brought out of the bullpen and allowed five runs in 1.1 innings. Reliever Mason Burkhardt pitched 5.1 scoreless innings on just two hits while striking out seven batters.
Jack Hostetler (4-1) started on the bump for the Blues and carved through seven innings allowing just three runs while striking out nine.
