SPOKANE, WASH – Whitworth racked up twelve hits during a 10-1 win over visiting Pacific Lutheran on Tuesday in a Northwest Conference baseball makeup game at Paul Merkel Field. The game was originally scheduled for March 2nd, but due to snow the game was pushed to a later date. The Bucs' mid-week success completed a series sweep of the Lutes this season.
Whitworth (18-7 overall, 7-5 NWC) improved to third place in Northwest Conference standings, while PLU (11-18, 6-9 NWC) fell to eighth place. The Pirates will host Whitman (15-9, 10-15) this weekend at Merkel Field in a four-game series.
Hunter Dryden improved to 5-1 as a starting pitcher after he held the Lutes to just one run in 6.1 innings. He struck out five batters and allowed five hits.
Brody Phinney gave the PLU a lead with an RBI single in the first inning.
The Pirates left four runners on base in the first two frames, but then took the lead in the third inning after Ty Quiggle singled to left center with runners on second and third base.
In the fourth inning, the Pirates piled on three runs with help from Elijah Tanner's two-RBI double. Whitworth held a four-run lead (5-1) through four innings of play.
After the Bucs added a run in the fifth inning on a passed ball, Spencer Shipman tacked on one more in the sixth with his fifth home run of the season - a solo shot to left field.
Aaron Clogston doubled to deep center field for two RBI's and Austin Paul followed with a sacrifice fly in the eighth frame in what was the Pirates' final offensive effort.
Tyler VanCise allowed just two hits in his 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Jon Crawley started for PLU and lasted just 0.1 innings before being relieved of his duties. First out of the bullpen was Chris Moreno (1-5) for 2.2 innings and he took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits. The Lutes followed with seven pitchers out of the bullpen to complete the game.
