Pirates Score Early in 11-4 Win over Bearcats

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University scored four runs in the first inning and led throughout the game, as the Pirates downed Willamette University, 11-4, in the final game of a three-game Northwest Conference series on Sunday, April 19. Whitworth improved to 25-13 overall, 16-8 in the Northwest Conference, while the Bearcats dropped to 20-16, 10-14 in the NWC.

The Pirates tied with Linfield, also 16-8, for second place in the NWC standings. Whitworth, the #3 seed, will take on Linfield, seeded #2, in the opening round of the NWC Tournament next weekend at Pacific Lutheran University. PLU won the regular season title with an 18-6 record.

For Willamette, Tiras Koon (Sr., 1B, Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) belted his 12th home run of the season. He leads the NWC in homers. Matthew Nelson and Thomas Wakem each hit a homer for Whitworth.

Whitworth's first trip to the plate featured three hits and two errors. Nick Motsinger singled to start the at bat. Skyler Lookabill reached base on an error. Joshua Davis provided a sacrifice bunt that also resulted in an error, placing runners at first and second. Jeremy Druffel brought in Motsinger and Lookabill with a double down the right field line.

Later, Carson Blumenthal hit a two-run single to center to drive in Davis and Druffel. Whitworth added one run in the second inning, when Spencer Locati was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced the final two bases on back-to-back groundouts. Lookabill recorded the RBI on a grounder toward second.

The Bearcats pulled within 5-2 in the top of the fourth, but Whitworth answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Both of Willamette's runs scored on Koon's homer. Hunter Gallant (Sr., 3B, Rescue, CA/Ponderosa HS), who opened the inning with a single, also scored on the play. In the Whitworth half of the frame, Davis hit an RBI single and Matthew Nelson smacked a two-run homer.

The Pirates tacked on one run in each of the next two innings for a 10-2 advantage. Thomas Wakem hit a leadoff home run in the fifth, while Lookabill walked and eventually scored on a balk in the sixth.

In the seventh, the Bearcats plated two runs. With one out, Nate Bush (Fr., INF, Boise, ID/Boise HS) doubled to right field. Devin Bales (Sr., UT, Graham, WA/Graham-Kapowsin HS/Grays Harbor College) reached base on an error at third. Bush scored on the play, while Bales advanced to third base. Jacob Parra (So., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC) singled to drive in Bales.

Whitworth scored the game's final run in the bottom of the seventh, as Motsinger singled and later scored on an base hit by Lookabill.

The Pirates gained a 15-7 advantage hits during the game. Druffell was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, while Motsinger finished 3 for 5 and scored twice. Davis, Blumenthal and Locati registered two hits apiece.

For Willamette, seven players each contributed one hit. Koon's homer and Bush's double were two of the Bearcats' three extra-base hits. Bales added a double in the top of the ninth.

Starting pitcher Cory Mack picked up the win for Whitworth. He threw seven innings and allowed six hits, four runs and two earned runs. He struck out three batters. Jackson Watt (Jr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS), who started for the Bearcats, pitched five innings and allowed nine runs (six earned). He registered five strikeouts with gave up one walk.

Willamette will close out the season with a three-game, non-conference series at Pacific University on May 2 and May 3. The teams will play a doubleheader on May 2 at 12 p.m. (PDT), followed by a single game on May 3 at 1 p.m.