LACEY, Wash. – Whitworth could not overcome the rain or the hosts in a non-conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday at Saint Martin's University. The Pirates lost twice to the NCAA Division II Saints, 8-7 in the opener and 7-0 in the second game.
Whitworth and SMU will attempt to complete the four-game set with another wet doubleheader on Sunday.
Game 1 – Saint Martin's 8, Whitworth 7
The Pirates nearly rallied all the way back from a 7-0 deficit before dropping the series opener.
The Saints sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning, including a two-run double by Peter Hollabaugh. They added two more in the fourth on a run-scoring ground out and an RBI single from Isaac Hoag.
Whitworth got two back in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Austin Paul and an RBI single by Kyle Memarian. The Bucs added one more in the sixth.
SMU scored its final run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Noah Albanese.
The Pirate continued to rally, loading the bases in the seventh before Carson Coffield drew an RBI bases on balls and Ryan Boehm added a sacrifice fly. Whitworth scored two more in the eighth to pull within a single run. Caleb Gray drew a bases-loaded walk and Coffield followed with a hard single to right. The Bucs could not score the tying run with the bases still loaded and only one out, thanks to a pop out and a fielder's choice ground out.
Whitworth did not get the potential tying run on base in the ninth until Austin Paul singled on the infield with two outs. Caiden Schultz struck out Nate Gray Jr. to end the game.
Coffield went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, the only Pirate with more than one hit or RBI. AJ Woodward (0-2) started on the mound for the Bucs and took the loss after allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in 3.0 innings. Zach Wright followed with three innings of strong relief, giving up only one run. Luke Nikunen and Tyler Disch each threw one inning of scoreless relief.
Hudson Normand (1-2) got the win for SMU after allowing three runs on five hits in six innings. Schultz got his first save, despite giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits in 3.0 innings.
Game 2 – Saint Martin's 7, Whitworth 0 (7 inn.)
The Pirates could not break through offensively against Nikki Scott, who allowed only four hits and two walks in a seven-inning complete game. Scott struck out seven batters to improve to 1-3.
Evan Nicol got SMU on the board in the first with a two-run single. The Saints added four more in the third, including an RBI single by Hollabaugh. They took advantage of a Whitworth error to score another run and extend the inning. The final run scored in the sixth on a ground out to second base.
Nathaniel Kurano (1-1) started for Whitworth and took the loss after allowing six runs (two earned) on eight hits and three walks in two frames. Boehm threw the next 3.1 innings and held the Saints to one runs on two hits. Owen Schneider finished up the game.
