FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Whitworth University rode the stellar pitching of Quentin O'Connor to a 7-1 win over Puget Sound in a loser-out game at the Northwest Conference baseball tournament on Friday night at Pacific University's Chuck Bafaro Stadium.

O'Connor, who threw three innings of scoreless relief to earn a save in Friday's early 7-3 win over Linfield, tossed a five-hit complete game to improve to 8-3 this season.  Over the course of 12 innings on Friday, O'Connor allowed only one run, struck out ten batters and got stronger as the day progressed.  He gave up a solo home run to Puget Sound's Kai Teruya leading off the second inning and nothing else.  Over the game's final five frames, he retired the side in order in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings and allowed only a two-out single in the sixth and one-out single to Teruya in the ninth.

O'Connor could work comfortably because the rest of the Pirates scored six runs over the first three innings.  Carson Coffield had an RBI single in the top of the first, scoring Aidan Morrison.  The Bucs took advantage of a UPS error to score their second run of the first inning.

In the second, Dominic Giusti was on third and Kyle Memarian on first and the Bucs scored on a double steal, a play they've had success with all season.  One out later, Caleb Gray singled home Memarian.  After a pitching change, Spencer Shipman doubled home Gray for a 5-0 lead.

Kevin Corder led off the third with a double and moved to third before Junior Garcia drew a walk.  Once again, Garcia broke for second and got caught in a run down, allowing Corder to score without drawing a throw for the sixth run of the game.

Whitworth pulled the same play in the bottom of the seventh, this time with Corder on third and Memarian on first.  Memarian appeared to make it safely back to first base after getting caught in his rundown long enough for Corder to score, but he was called out for leaving the base path.

Whitworth advances to the championship day at the NWC tournament for the second straight year.  The Pirates will take on host, at top-seeded Pacific University at noon on Saturday.  If Whitworth wins that game, the teams will play another contest at 3:00 pm.  If the Boxers win the noon contest, they claim the tournament title.  Pacific has defeated Linfield 5-4 and Puget Sound 7-2 so far in the tournament.