LACEY, Wash. – Whitworth bounced back from Saturday's doubleheader sweep at Saint Martin's to sweep the Saints in Sunday's twinbill and even the four-game non-conference set. The Pirates came from behind twice to win the opener 12-8 in 11 innings, then rode a dominant starting pitching effort to take the nightcap 4-2.
Whitworth improved to 4-7 with the wins and will open Northwest Conference play next weekend at Puget Sound. NCAA Div. II Saint Martin's falls to 6-9.
Game 1 – Whitworth 12, Saint Martin's 8 (11 innings)
The Pirates rallied for four runs in the top of the 11th to earn their first win of the series, coming back from deficits of 4-1 and 7-5 along the way.
Trailing 4-1 through four innings, Whitworth scored two in the fifth and two more in the seventh to go ahead 5-4. Rylan Davis had a two-run single in the seventh to give the Bucs their first lead.
The Saints answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Isaac Hoag had a two-run single in the rally.
Whitworth tied the game in the eighth on an RBI double by Carson Coffield and a run-scoring single from Dominic Giusti. The Saints had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on third and only one out. Alohi Arecchi tried to score on a comebacker to the mound, but Seth Mahler was able to field the ball and throw out Arecchi to prevent the winning run.
Both teams scored a single run in the 10th before the Pirates broke through in the 11th. Coffield started things off with another RBI double and Giusti followed with another RBI single. Ty Komoda got down a squeeze bunt to score Coffield then Isaac Lee drove in the 12th run with a single to center field.
Luke Stutesman threw the final two innings to improve to 2-1 this season. Mahler kept the Pirates in the game with 2.2 innings of shutout relief from the seventh through the end of the ninth. Rylan Blair started the game and allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and five walks in 3.2 innings. Dillon Hartman followed and gave up three runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks in 2.2 innings.
Blaze Wong started the game on the mound for SMU and gave up three runs on five hits in 5.0 innings, but did not factor in the decision. Luke Petrie (0-1) took the loss when he gave up all four runs in the 11th inning.
Kyle Memarian went 3 for 5 with five runs scored in the game for the Bucs.
Game 2 – Whitworth 4, Saint Martin's 2
Dylan Huntsman allowed only one run on three hits over six strong innings to guide the Pirates to a 4-2 win in the series finale. Huntsman allowed only a third inning home run to Carson Dunn and improved to 2-1 this season. He struck out six Saints and walked only two.
Whitworth scored a pair in the first. Coffield and Giusti came through again. Coffield singled home Caleb Gray. Giusti followed with a sacrifice fly to score Memarian. Austin Paul's RBI single in the second gave the Bucs an early 3-0 advantage.
Tyler Disch got the save after allowing one run in the ninth. The Saint's got the potential winning run on base, but Disch got the final out on a ground out to third base.
Peter Hollabaugh (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in 2.0 innings as the starting pitcher.
