SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth led from start to finish in a 16-5 Northwest Conference victory over Linfield on Sunday afternoon at Paul Merkel Field. With the win the Pirates swept the three-game series.
Jacob Swenson (3-2) was tagged with the loss after giving eight earned runs after spinning three and two-thirds innings as the starter. Linfield (18-20, 11-12 NWC) deployed five other pitchers in relief.
Jake Hoskins totaled a game-high four hits while
Nick Holm extended his Northwest Conference game-hitting streak to 14 games with three hits on the day. Holm, Hoskins and
Wyatt Hurley each tallied an extra-base hit.
Quentin O'Connor (7-2) earned the win after hurling six innings as the Whitworth starter, giving up three runs and striking out six Linfield batters. Jacob Doughty hit the game's only home run while totaling four RBIs. Austin Paul posted three RBIs and was one of four Pirates to total two hits. Eight Whitworth (24-11, 12-9 NWC) batters reached base via walk while Linfield drew none.
Whitworth batters pounced on Swenson in the early innings. The Pirates scored eight runs across the first four innings and held an 8-1 lead. The 'Cats scored two runs in the fifth before the Pirates plated six more in their halves of the fifth and sixth frames.
Linfield scratched across two more runs in the ninth inning with Hurley and Hoskins coming across to score.
ON DECK
The Wildcats are still in the thick of the NWC playoff chase and return to Roy Helser Field for their final regular season contest against Pacific. First pitch against the Boxers is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
