SPOKANE, WASH – Whitworth split a non-conference doubleheader against visiting Eastern Oregon University on Sunday at Paul Merkel Field. The Pirates won the opener 7-2, but fell in the nightcap by the same score.
Whitworth (11-1) officially tied the program record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season, set in 2016, but fell just short of breaking their record. Eastern Oregon broke an eight-game losing streak with the split and is now 9-13 on the season. Whitworth will resume conference play next weekend in Forest Grove, facing off against reigning Northwest Conference regular season champion Pacific University.
Game 1 – Whitworth 7, Eastern Oregon 2
Timely hitting helped Whitworth work past the Mountaineers in game one of the double header.
Spencer Shipman's RBI double and Ty Quiggle's RBI single helped the Bucs to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the second inning.
Joey Freitas was able to cut Whitworth's lead in half with an RBI double to left center in the third inning. Eastern Oregon tied the game with Tommy Whiles' homer to right field in the fourth inning.
The Pirates retook a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning after Quiggle recorded his second hit and second RBI of the game.
Kevin Corder's two RBI single began a four-run fifth inning for the Pirates. After Corder's single, the Bucs added another run when Elijah Tanner's aggressive base running was rewarded after an errant throw by the Mountaineers. Henry Zaske followed with an RBI single to help Whitworth to a 7-2 win.
Starting pitcher Jack Leary (2-0) worked through 3.2 innings and allowed two runs on six hits. In relief was Hunter Williams (W, 1-0) with 3.1 innings of scoreless work. Dylan Huntsman was used to shut the door in the final two innings while he allowed just one hit.
Shane Sinclair (0-3) gave up five earned runs on eight hits in six innings. Alex Farnsworth pitched two innings of relief and allowed just two hits.
Game 2 – Whitworth 2, Eastern Oregon 7
An impressive pitching outing from Eastern Oregon's Will Seslar and three home runs from Joey Freitas helped lead the Mountaineers to defeat the Pirates.
Mario Landeros was quick to give Eastern Oregon the 1-0 lead in the first inning after he belted an RBI double into left center field.
The Pirates responded with a run of their own on Corder's safety squeeze bunt in the bottom half of the first.
In the third inning Freitas hit his first home run of the day to left field, a solo shot to give Eastern Oregon the lead.
Corder was able to score for the Bucs in the fourth inning on a Zaske fielder's choice. Parker Cumberland quickly retaliated for Eastern Oregon in the fifth inning with a solo home run to make their lead 3-2.
The Mountaineers rallied in the seventh inning after one swing of the bat from Freitas again, a two-run blast this time. However, Freitas' day was not quite over as he hit another two-run homer in the ninth inning to aid Eastern Oregon in a 7-2 victory.
Bucs' starting pitcher Quentin O'Connor (1-1) pitched 5.1 innings for the Pirates and allowed three runs before reliever Connor Ashworth took over. Ashworth gave up two runs in 2.2 innings and then handed the ball to Seth Mahler (0.1 IP, 2R, 3H). Reliever Dylan Owen pitched the final 0.2 innings on no runs or hits.
Will Seslar (3-1) dominated through eight innings and scattered seven hits to allow just two runs. Callan Vreim (1IP, 0R, 0H) shut the door in ninth for the Mountaineers.
