CLAREMONT, Calif. - Jack Gold's walk off grand slam spoiled what would have been a stunning come-from-behind victory for the Pirates. Instead, the Sagehens' star stunned Whitworth 15-13, thanks to his seven RBIs in the game from the 2025 SCIAC Player of the Year.
The 19th-ranked Sagehens jumped out to a 6-0 lead through five innings, before the Pirates even had a hit. Kai Gonzaga had a two-run home run and Gold had an RBI single for P-P in a three-run fourth.
Whitworth tied the game with a huge rally in the sixth, including a two-run double by Carson Coffield and a bases-clearing three-run double by Dominic Giusti.
The Sagehens answered with two in the bottom of the sixth and got two more in the seventh on a two-run single by Gold.
The Pirates responded again with a five-run eighth inning. Kyle Memarian had a two-run single and Emmerson Fleck delivered a two-out, three-run home run to put the Bucs ahead for the first time. Whitworth added two more in the top of the ninth on back-to-back RBI singles by Caleb Gray and Coffield.
In the bottom of the ninth, Gonzaga doubled to drive in the first run and put runners on second and third for P-P with no one out. A walk and a strikeout later, Gold homered to right field to end the game.
Coffield led the Pirates at the plate, going 3 for 6 with three RBIs. Gold also was 3 for 6 for the Sagehens with seven RBIs.
Max Brunngraber started on the mound for P-P and held Whitworth hitless through five innings. He left with one out in the sixth after giving up two runs on four hits, but did not factor into the decision. Eli Della Bitta was the winner, despite giving up two runs on three hits in his half of the ninth.
Rylan Blair started for the Pirates and allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in 3.0 innings. Four relievers followed, each giving up at least two runs. Seth Mahler (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and two walks with a hit batter in 1.1 innings.
Whitworth plays at 16th-ranked La Verne late on Friday afternoon.
