SPOKANE, WASH – Whitworth fell to Lewis & Clark in both games in a Northwest Conference double header on Saturday at Huston Sports Complex. The Pirates dropped game one 6-5 and couldn't keep pace with the Pioneers' offense in a 10-3 loss in the night cap.
The Bucs (20-11, 8-9 NWC) have slipped below .500 in conference play for the first time this season after climbing as high as second in the standings while the Pioneers (17-15-1, 8-9 NWC) have won four of their last five to put themselves back conference tournament contention. The two teams will go into tomorrow's games tied for fourth place in the conference standings.
Game 1 – Lewis & Clark 6, Whitworth 5
The Pirates clawed their way back from a three-run deficit in the seventh inning, but were unable to repossess the lead in their narrow loss to the Pioneers.
Aaron Clogston scored Kevin Corder on a sacrifice fly in the third inning to put Whitworth on the board. In the fourth inning, Jakob Ghammachi's two RBI double to center field put Lewis & Clark on top. Michael Aikawa followed with an RBI single to bring Ghammachi into score to increase their lead, 3-1. The Pioneers' tacked on another run with Gavin Mangano's RBI single to right field in the fifth inning.
The Bucs' offense proved resilient tying the game with a three-run seventh inning. Henry Zaske's single to left field brought in the Pirates first run of the inning and then Shipman doubled to left center to score Zaske. Austin Paul singled and was thrown out trying to extend to second base, but Shipman was able to score on the play before Paul was tagged out.
Mangano and Brennan Davis were quick to respond for the Pioneers', both recorded a hit and RBI in the bottom of the seventh to put L&C back on top.
Clogston hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to cut the deficit to a run, but the damage was already done as the Pirates fell 6-5.
Whitworth's starting pitcher Conner Ashworth allowed three earned runs on five hits in six innings. Tyler VanCise (1-1) pitched two innings of relief on two runs and four hits.
Brett Pierson (4-3) received the start for Lewis & Clark, and threw seven innings on two earned runs and six hits. The Pioneers used Nate Kerr (1IP, 1R, 1H) and Anthony Clerici (1IP, 0ER, 5SV) in relief.
Game 2 – Lewis & Clark 10, Whitworth 3
The Pioneers' offense scored ten runs on 14 hits to blow past the Pirates.
Lewis & Clark jumped out to a healthy 4-0 lead after Luke Bass' smashed a grand slam in the fourth inning.
Whitworth's Blake Barrett chimed back with a homer of his own in the fifth inning; a solo shot to right field. The Pioneers' wouldn't let the Pirates' run go unchecked as they rallied for three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Ghammachi got things started with a solo home run, before Jackson Savant singled for an RBI, and a Whitworth fielding error allowed the third run of the inning to score.
Lewis & Clark carried their offensive momentum into the sixth inning as they capitalized on three defensive errors by the Pirates to pick up three more runs and add to their lead. Pioneers lead 10-1.
The Bucs' Barrett tripled for an RBI in seventh inning and singled for his third RBI of the game in the eighth inning, but ultimately the Bucs' were outpaced 10-3 when the game was final.
Jack Leary (3-3) allowed ten hits and six earned runs on just 4.1 innings pitched as the Pirates' starter. Mason Burkhardt, pitched 1.2 innings on two earned runs and three hits before Evan Williamson (0ER, 1H, 1SO) was brought in to finish the remaining two innings.
L&C starter Owen Eisen (4-4), allowed just two runs on four hits in 6.1 innings. Kyle Wilsie came out of the bullpen for 2.2 innings of relief on three hits and one run.
The Bucs will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday with a single game left in the NWC series. The first pitch of Sunday's contest is scheduled for noon.
