Junior pitcher Pat Thomas threw a complete game, but the Whitman baseball team fell 4-3 to Hastings College in its opening game of the season in Chandler, Ariz. It was the first game for both schools at the DIII Desert Classic. The Missionaries fell to 0-1 on the season while Hastings improved to 1-0.
Thomas allowed nine hits and struck out three batters over his seven innings of work. Hastings scored one run in its opening at bat against Thomas, and added three more in the fifth. The Missionaries held the lead after scoring two in the second and one in the fourth, but were unable get a run across the plate in the game's final three innings.
First-year utility player Simon Pollack and junior outfielder Sean Kinney each had doubles for the Missionaries. Pollack knocked a run in with his two-bagger and also scored a run himself. Junior Andrew Shultz went one for two, with a run and an RBI. Brandon Nickerson scored Whitman's only other run, and Cole Smead and Spencer Fox each had singles.
Whitman continues play at the Desert Classic with two games Friday.
Junior Andrew Shultz drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh inning, forcing Drew Pearsall across the plate as the Whitman baseball team downed Cal.-Lutheran 10-9 Friday at the DIII Desert Classic in Chandler, Ariz. The Missionaries notched their first win of the season, and are 1-1. Cal.-Lutheran is 1-4.
Pat Johnston went five and two-thirds innings for Whitman and left with a lead, but reliever Oliver Stiefel was credited with the win. Sean Kinney had two hits, including a bases-loaded triple, and drove in three runs for Whitman, while Spencer Fox had two singles and knocked in two. Shultz knocked in three with a two-run single and his game-winning walk. Pearsall scored four times for the Missionaries, while Brandon Nickerson had two runs and an RBI double.
Defending national champion Chapman proved to be too much for the Whitman baseball team Friday afternoon at the DIII Desert Classic, downing the Missionaries 14-0. Whitman fell to 1-2 with the loss. Chapman, ranked No. 4 in the nation, improved to 5-0 with the win, but fell to George Fox 2-1 later Friday.
Cole Smead had two singles for the Missionaries, and Sean Kinney and Spencer Fox also had hits. Adam Maldonado worked five innings and took the loss.
Whitman continues play in Chandler, Ariz. with one game on Saturday.
Junior Steve Johnson allowed only two hits in a 5-inning ballgame as the Whitman baseball team downed Pittsburgh-Bradford 10-0 at the DIII Desert Classic Saturday. Whitman evened its record at 2-2 with the win, while Pittsburgh-Bradford fell to 0-4.
The Missionaries exploded for six runs in the 2nd inning en route to the win. J.D. Fischer powered the Missionary offense with a pair of 2-run singles. Brandon Nickerson also had two singles, knocking in two, and Andrew Shultz drove in a run with a double.
The Whitman baseball team ended its trip to Chandler, Ariz. with an 11-1 run over Pittsburgh-Bradford Saturday at the DIII Desert Classic. The Missionaries downed the Panthers for the second time at the tournament, and return to Walla Walla with a 3-2 record. Pittsburgh-Bradford fell to 0-5 on the season.
Whitman starter Matt Jungmann threw five innings of no-hit ball while striking out five. Reliever Oliver Stiefel replaced Jungmann in the sixth, allowing two hits and a run in the final inning.
Sophomore Drew Pearsall drove in three runs for the Missionaries, while Sean Kinney, Spencer Fox, and Simon Pollack had two hits apiece.
The Missionaries return home for a game next Saturday against Central Washington.
The Whitman baseball team dropped a pair of games to Central Washington 7-0 and 5-1 Saturday afternoon as it opened play at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla, Wash. The Missionaries dropped to 3-4 on the season, while the Central Washington, an NCAA Div. II program, improved to 3-4.
In the first game of the cold double-header, Whitman struggled at the plate, compiling four hits as a team. The Wildcats scored the game's first run in the second inning, and notched another in the sixth. In the seventh, Central Washington exploded with four runs, and tagged on a final run in the eighth.
Junior Pat Thomas pitched into the seventh for the Missionaries, allowing four runs on nine hits. Another junior, Steve Johnson, relieved Thomas and finished out the game, giving up three runs on five hits.
Whitman's best chance to score came in the fifth inning. With one out, junior Cole Smead singled and stole second. Freshman infielder Simon Pollack also singled, and was moved to second base as Sean Kinney was thrown out following a bunt. With two out, though, sophomore J.D. Fischer grounded out to second base to end the threat.
Sophomore Brandon Nickerson and junior Spencer Fox also had hits for the Missionaries in the loss.
In the day's second game, Whitman out hit the Wildcats nine to five in seven innings, but left 10 men on base. Trailing 2-0 in the sixth inning, the Missionaries produced their only run of the game. With one out, Fox walked, but was thrown out at second as Andrew Shultz reached on a fielder's choice. Freshman Derek Fletcher then singled, advancing Shultz to third. Smead then knocked Shultz in with an RBI single, but the Missionaries were retired without any more runners crossing the plate.
The Wildcats tacked on three more runs in the final inning, winning 5-1.
Shultz, who was seven for 14 coming into the weekend, collected two hits in his three at bats. Smead was also two for three, with the team's lone RBI. Fischer, Nickerson, Fox and sophomore Matt Jungmann also singled in the game.
Adam Maldonado, a sophomore southpaw, worked six and two-thirds innings on the hill for the Missionaries, allowing four earned runs on four hits. Maldonado struck out two and walked five. Oliver Stiefel took over for Maldonado in the seventh, retiring the side after allowing one run on one hit.
The Missionaries battle the Wildcats again on Sunday, with a noon start time.
Freshman lefty Pat Johnston pitched six strong innings for the Whitman baseball team, but the Missionaries fell 5-3 to NCAA Div. II Central Washington in the final game of the weekend series in Walla Walla, Wash. The Wildcats swept all three games, and improved to 4-4 on the year. Whitman fell to 3-5 with the loss in its final tuneup for conference play.
Johnston allowed three runs on six hits in taking the loss for Whitman, while striking out six and walking four. Sophomore Oliver Stiefel pitched three innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits.
Central Washington scored the first two runs of the game in the third, but sophomore J.D. Fischer launched his first collegiate homerun to cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the inning.
In the fourth, each team notched another run. Brandon Nickerson led off the Missionary half of the inning by reaching on an error, and was later knocked in by Fisher's RBI single.
After the Wildcats took a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh, Whitman again responded. Cole Smead singled to start things off, and was moved along to second by a Sean Kinney sacrafice bunt. With two outs, Brandon Nickerson singled to bring Smead around to once again make it a one-run ballgame. Unfortunately the Missionaries were unable to produce any more runs, and the Wildcats tallied one more on a homer in the ninth.
Nickerson and Fischer each had two hits apiece, both going two for four. Sean Kinney doubled in the third in his only hit of the game. Matt Jungman, Andrew Shultz and Smead each had singles.
The Missionaries begin conference play in two weeks, taking on Lewis & Clark in a weekend series in Portland, Ore.
The Whitman baseball team dropped a pair of games to Lewis & Clark College 6-1 and 9-5 Saturday in the opening day of Northwest Conference play for both schools in Portland, Ore. The Missionaries fell to 3-7 overall, and are 0-2 in conference. The Pioneers rebounded after losing their only game of the year, and are 10-1, 2-0.
Junior righty Pat Thomas worked all eight innings on the mound in the first game of the day's doubleheader, allowing just three earned runs while striking out one and walking three. Thomas gave up eight hits and fell to 0-3 on the season.
Whitman's lone run was the first of the contest, giving it a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Brandon Nickerson singled to start off the inning, and advanced to second on an error that allowed Drew Pearsall to reach base. With two out, Cole Smead walked, loading the bases. Junior Spencer Fox then also drew a walk, bringing Nickerson across the plate.
The Missionaries struggled at the plate the rest of the way, with Sean Kinney recording the only other hit.
The Pioneers put one on the board in the fourth to tie the game, and then came back with three in the fifth. Lewis & Clark scored its final two runs in its final at bat in the eighth.
In the day's second game, the Missionaries compiled 10 hits while holding the Pioneers to nine, but fell 9-5.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first, Whitman responded with four runs in the top of the second inning. Fox drew a walk to start the inning, and was moved over to second by an Andrew Shultz sacrafice bunt. Pearsall then singled, advancing Fox to third. After J.D. Fischer was hit by a pitch, freshman Simon Pollack singled, scoring Fox. With two outs, Kinney came to the plate and belted a bases-clearing double to give the Missionaries a 4-2 lead.
The Pioneers notched one run in the third and then regained the lead in the fourth with four more. Fischer scored on a Pollack RBI single in the sixth, but Lewis & Clark put up two more runs in the seventh and went on claim the victory.
Freshman Pat Johnston took the loss on the hill, allowing seven runs in three and two-thirds innings of work. Steve Johnson entered the game in relief, and pitched three and a third before handing the ball over to Oliver Stiefel. Johnson gave up two runs on three hits, and struck out two. Stiefel worked a scoreless eighth while facing six batters.
Nickerson and Pollack each had a double and two singles, and Pearsall and Fischer each had a single. Freshman Ben Hunter had a pinch-hit single, recording his first collegiate hit.
The Missionaries will finish up the three game series with the Pioneers on Sunday.
Junior Spencer Fox's RBI single in the top of the ninth brought Andrew Shultz across the plate and the Whitman baseball team held on for a 7-6 win over Lewis & Clark in Northwest Conference action in Portland, Ore. Sunday afternoon. The Missionaries notched their first conference victory, and are 4-7, 1-2. Lewis & Clark lost for just the second time all season, and is 10-2, 2-1.
The Missionaries came into their half of the ninth tied 5-5 with the Pioneers as Shultz doubled to start off the inning. Fox followed that up with his single, and advanced to second on J.D. Fischer's single. Drew Pearsall followed Fischer's hit with one of his own and the third straight for the Missionaries, loading the bases with one down. Cole Smead then drew a walk, and Fox scored what would turn out to be the game-winning run.
In the bottom half of the inning, after allowing one run to cross the plate, freshman pitcher Thomas Kost recorded a strike out for the first out of the inning. With the Pioneer on first running, Fox then threw down to second to catch him stealing, and Kost fielded a grounder and threw to first to end the game.
Kost recorded his first collegiate win with his two innings on the mound. Kost allowed three hits and one run while striking out one and walking one. Sophomore Matt Jungmann started the game and went six and two-thirds for the Missionaries, giving up four hits and four earned runs. Adam Maldonado recorded the final out in the seventh, giving up one run.
Pearsall went three for four on the day and drew a walk, and Fischer had two hits in five at bats. Freshman Simon Pollack homered in the eighth inning, his first in a Missionary uniform.
Whitman returns to Borleske next weekend to host conference favorite George Fox in a three game series.
The Whitman baseball team dropped a pair of games to defending Northwest Conference champion George Fox 3-0 and 23-6 Saturday in Walla Walla, Wash. The Bruins, ranked 16th nationally in a preseason coaches' poll, improved to 13-2 and remained perfect in the conference at 5-0. The Missionaries fell to 4-9 overall, and are 1-4 in conference play.
Game one of the double-header remained a scoreless tie until George Fox produced an unearned run in the sixth inning off Whitman righty Pat Thomas. In the seventh, Thomas was relieved by Steve Johnson after surrendering two more runs. Johnson took the mound with no outs and the bases full, but retired the side without any more damage being done with a 1-2-3 double play and a pop-up. The Missionaries were unable to produce any runs of their own, though, and George Fox pitcher Scott Hyde earned the win with a three-hit shutout.
Sophomore J.D. Fischer had two of the Missionaries' three hits, with shortstop Brandon Nickeron recording the other.
Thomas worked six innings in taking the loss, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Thomas, a junior, struck out four and walked two batters. Johnson finished out the remainder of the game on the hill, allowing just one hit in three scoreless innings.
The bats awoke for the Bruins in the nightcap as they scored eight runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Freshman starter Pat Johnston took the loss and handed the ball over to sophomore Matt Jungmann. Jungmann allowed seven runs in his three and a third innings of work before being relieved by freshman Thomas Kost. Kost lasted four and a third innings, and sophomore Oliver Stiefel pitched the ninth.
The Missionary offense broke the shutout in the fourth, and then produced four more runs in their half of the fifth.
Nickerson reached on an error in the fourth, and scored on a throwing error by the right fielder after a Derek Fletcher single.
In the fifth, Sean Kinney reached on a fielder's choice, and moved to second on Fischer's single. Simon Pollack then bunted and reached base when the pitcher mishandled the ball, and Kinney crossed the plate. Ian Warner, a pinch-runner for Fischer, then scored on a Nickerson single. Fletcher then doubled, bringing in both Pollack and Nickerson.
The Missionaries final run was tallied in the ninth. Nickerson doubled, and was again brought in by Fletcher.
Fletcher and Nickerson each went three for five, and Fischer and Kinney each had two hits. Drew Pearsall and Andrew Shultz each also had a hit.
The Missionaries and Bruins will concluded their three-game series at Borleske on Sunday. Game time is 12 noon.
The Whitman baseball team fell 25-7 to visiting George Fox as the Bruins completed a three-game sweep of the Missionaries in Northwest Conference action in Walla Walla, Wash. George Fox improved to 14-2 overall, and is 6-0 in conference play. The Missionaries dropped to 4-10, 1-5.
The Bruins scored in all but two innings of the game, and held a 5-0 lead before the Missionaries got on the board in the third inning.
With Cole Smead on, J.D. Fischer and Sean Kinney hit back to back singles, loading the bases with one down. Simon Pollack then drew a walk - scoring Smead - and Brandon Nickerson hit a sacrafice fly to center to score Fischer.
The Bruins scored four in the fourth, extending their lead to 9-2. In Whitman's half of the inning, Andrew Shultz and Kinney had back to back RBI singles as the Missionaries cut the lead to five. The Bruins again put up four runs in the fifth, and chalked up one more in the sixth before Whitman could do any more damage.
Kinney singled with one away in the sixth, and scored from first on Fischer's double. Pollack then launched a ball over the left-field fence for his second homerun of the season, making the score 14-7. Whitman was shutout in the final three frames, though, and George Fox managed 11 more runs in winning 25-7.
Kinney drove in one and scored twice as he led the Missionaries with three hits. Pollack went one for three with a run scored and three RBIs while Smead singled twice and scored two runs. Shultz also had two singles, while Fischer had a single, a double, drove in a run and crossed the plate once.
Sophomore southpaw Adam Maldonado started the game and went four innings in taking the loss. Maldonado allowed eight earned runs on ten hits. Freshman Pat Johnston pitched three innings, allowing five runs, and sophomore Oliver Stiefel pitched the final two innings for the Missionaries.
Whitman continues conference play on the road next weekend as it takes on Willamette in a three game series.
After falling 10-3 in the first game of Saturday's twinbill, the Whitman baseball team scored eight runs in the final two innings in the nightcap for a 12-7 victory over Willamette in Salem, Ore. Whitman now stands at 5-11 on the season is 2-6 in Northwest Conference play. The Bearcats are 8-9 overall and 1-4 in conference.
The Missionaries jumped up 2-0 in the first inning of game one. The runs were a result of three straight singles from Sean Kinney, J. D. Fischer and Brandon Nickerson, plus an RBI-sacrafice fly by Simon Pollack. Whitman held the lead until the bottom of the third, when Willamette brought seven runs across the plate. Whitman scored just one more run -- in the seventh inning -- when Kinney knocked in Drew Pearsall with a single.
Kinney had his best game of the season, going four of five at the plate with a run and an RBI. Fischer, Nickerson and Pearsall each had two hits as the Missionaries compiled 13 as a team, three more than the Bearcats.
Freshman Pat Johnston went five innings on the mound and took the loss. Johnston struck out one and walked four while allowing nine earned runs. Another freshman hurler, Thomas Kost, worked two innings, and Oliver Stiefel pitched a scoreless eighth.
In Saturday's second game, the Missionaries continued to hit well. Fischer went three for five with a pair of doubles, knocking in four runs. Kinney also had three hits in five at bats, with an RBI and three runs scored. Junior Spencer Fox added three hits and scored twice.
Whitman again took a 2-0 lead in the game's first inning, but fell behind 7-4 heading into the final two frames.
In Whitman's half of the eighth, Pearsall, Fox and Cole Smead singled to load the bases with no outs. After Pearsall scored on a wild pitch, Kinney singled through the right side to bring Fox across the plate. Fischer followed Kinney's RBI with a sacrafice bunt, scoring Smead. With two down, Pollack scored Kinney with a single.
The Bearcats failed to score any in their half of the eighth, but the Missionaries were not finished when they came up in the ninth. Ben Hunter scored the first run of the inning as a pinch runner. With the bases loaded and one away, Fischer drove the ball to left center, clearing the bases before being thrown out trying to stretch his double into a triple.
Pat Thomas went six and two-thirds for the Missionaries, allowing seven runs on 11 hits. Thomas struck out two and walked three before handing the ball over to junior Steve Johnson. Johnson recorded the final out in the seventh and worked the final two innings without allowing a hit to record his second win of the year.
The Missionaries and Bearcats play the final game of their weekend series at 12 noon on Sunday.
Sophomore righthander Matt Jungmann pitched seven solid innings, allowing just four hits, but Willamette scored in the bottom of the ninth to win 5-4 over the Whitman baseball team Sunday in Salem, Ore. The Missionaries fell to 5-12 overall, and are 2-7 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette evened up its record at 9-9 overall, and is 2-4 in conference play.
Jungmann had his strongest start of the season, striking out two and walking two while allowing four runs.
Whitman took the an initial 1-0 lead in the third inning as Sean Kinney came around from first to score on J. D. Fischer's double to left. The Bearcats evened things up with a run in the fourth, but the Missionaries responded with a run in the top of the fifth to reclaim the lead. Drew Pearsall scored after hitting a single to left on a Kinney groundout to second base.
Willamette scored two of its own in the fifth, taking a 3-2 lead. The Bearcats tacked on another with a homerun in the seventh, leaving Whitman down 4-2 entering the eighth inning.
Simon Pollack and Andrew Shultz crossed the plate in the inning on RBI singles by Derek Fletcher and Pearsall. Whitman was unable to score a go-ahead run in the top of the ninth, though, leaving the door open for the Bearcats.
Sophomore Adam Maldonado releived Jungmann in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Willamette's leadoff hitter reached on an error. The next batter laid down a bunt for a single, and advanced to second on an overthrow to first base. Thomas Kost then relieved Maldonado, and intentionally walked a Bearcat to load the bases. A single to right field brought the winning run across the plate, though, giving Willamette a 5-4 victory.
The Missionaries take a break from conference play next week as they take on Concordia on Tuesday and Western Baptist on Wednesday. Both games will be played in Salem, Ore.
Losing by a single run for the second time in three days, the Whitman men's baseball team fell to Western Baptist 7-6 Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference baseball game in Salem, Ore.
Western Baptist, an NAIA Div. II school, improved to 8-8 on the season, while the Missionaries slipped to 5-13 overall.
With starter Steve Johnson throwing a strong six innings, Whitman held a 6-2 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth frame, when Western Baptist inched closer with a single run. In the bottom of the ninth, the Warriors capitalized on two walks and an infield throwing error to close the gap to 6-4. Following another base on balls, sophomore center fielder John Hagensen slammed a one-out, three-run homer to give the hosts the victory.
Whitman's center fielder, junior Sean Kinney, paced the Missionary attack with three hits. Kinney singled in the top of the first, stole second and scored on sophomore Simon Pollack's single through the right side.
The Missionaries took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore Brandon Nickerson singled and advanced to third base on freshman Derek Fletcher's single to left. After Fletcher stole second and sophomore Drew Pearsall walked, Nickerson scored on an RBI-groundout by junior Spencer Fox. An infield error scored Whitman's second run of the inning.
Whitman plated its final three runs in the fifth frame. Kinney singled, took second on a balk and later scored on Pollack's single to center. Nickerson, who walked in front of Pollack, scored on an infield out. Singles by Pearsall and Fox gave the Missionaries a third run and a 6-2 lead.
Johnson scattered four hits and two earned runs in his six innings. The junior righthander fanned three and walked one.
Whitman plays another non-conference game Wednesday afternoon at Concordia in Portland, Ore. Concordia also is an NAIA Div. II school.
The Whitman men's baseball team dropped a non-conference game to Concordia University 9-5 Wednesday in Portland, Ore. The Missionaries fell to 5-14 overall. Concordia, an NAIA Div. II school, improved to 13-8 on the season.
Sophomore J.D. Fischer, the team leader in RBIs, had three hits during the game, knocking in three of the Missionaries' five runs. Sean Kinney also continued to hit well, with two singles in four at bats.
Junior righty Pat Thomas worked five innings in taking the loss, allowing seven earned runs. Thomas struck out two while walking just one batter. Pat Johnston pitched three strong innings of relief, giving up just one run on two hits while sitting down four batters on strikes.
Whitman continues non-conference play on Wednesday, March 28 with a road double-header against Central Washington.
The Whitman baseball team produced 16 runs in two games of a doubleheader Tuesday, but dropped the pair of non-conference contests to Central Washington 15-3 and 19-13 in Ellensburg, Wash. The Missionaries fell to 5-16 on the year, and remain 2-7 in Northwest Conference action. Central Washington, an NCAA Div. II school, improved to 13-8.
The Wildcats held a 7-0 lead going into the top of the sixth inning of game one before Whitman scored its only three runs. Junior catcher Spencer Fox knocked the first run in with an RBI single, and then Andrew Shultz scored on a wild pitch. With two down, Fox also crossed the plate on an errant pitch, scoring the third run.
The Missionaries were unable to plate any more runs, though, leaving nine runners on base. Central Washington exploded in the eighth inning, scoring its final eight runs to put the game out of reach.
Shultz, a junior rightfielder, went four for four at the plate, including two extra-base hits. Brandon Nickerson had two hits, and Sean Kinney, Cole Smead and Fox each had one hit.
Freshman Pat Johnston started the game and went three innings in taking the loss. Johnston allowed just four hits, but also walked four in allowing five earned runs. Thomas Kost pitched four solid innings of relief, allowing just two earned runs on five hits.
In the second game of the day, the Wildcats again jumped out front early, taking a 9-0 lead at the end of the second inning. Whitman responded though in the fourth as it put six runs across the plate.
Shultz started the inning off, drawing a walk and advancing to second on a wild pitch. With one away Drew Pearsall singled, and was followed by four straight singles by Smead, Kinney, J.D. Fischer and Nickerson. With five runs in, Shultz doubled to right and Nickerson crossed the plate for the sixth run.
The Wildcats scored four in their half of the fourth, but Nickerson knocked in two more runs and Simon Pollack had an RBI single in the fifth to make the score 13-9.
In the seventh and final inning, Whitman trailed 19-9. With one away, Nickerson singled for his fourth hit of the game, and later scored on an RBI single by Shultz. Fox brought in two runs with a hit, and Shultz scored before Fox was doubled off to end the game after a Pearsall flyout.
Matt Jungmann worked three innings on the mound, allowing nine runs while striking out a single batter and walking three. Steve Johnson pitched an inning and a third in relief before handing the ball off to lefty Adam Maldonado for the remainder of the game.
Nickerson recorded his four hits in five at bats, and Kinney went three for five at the plate. Shultz continued his good day at the plate, with a single and double and two runs batted in.
The Missionaries resume conference play this coming weekend as they host Whitworth for a three game series. Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon, followed by the final game at noon on Sunday.
Mistakes in the field proved costly as Whitman surrendered 10 unearned runs in dropping both ends of a Northwest Conference twinbill to Whitworth Saturday afternoon at Borleske Stadium.
The visiting Pirates took the opener 12-5 and won the nightcap 8-3. The Missionaries slipped to 5-18 on the season, which includes a 2-9 mark in NWC. Whitworth is 10-13 overall, 6-8 in conference.Whitman fell behind early in game one, giving up 11 runs in the first six innings. The onslaught included designated hitter Kyle Henderson's home run leading off the top of the fifth inning. Whitman got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when its designated hitter, freshman Derek Fletcher, ripped a two- out round-tripper, his first collegiate home run.
Whitman followed with two more runs in the seventh, thanks to J.D. Fischer's sacrifice fly and Simon Pollack's RBI-single. The Missionaries added their final two runs in the ninth inning. After Brandon Nickerson singled to score Sean Kinney, Andrew Shultz doubled in Nickerson.
Kinney, hitting in the lead-off spot for the Missionaries, reached base in four of his five plate appearances. He doubled in the fifth inning and scored two of Whitman's five runs. Pollack, Shultz, and Fletcher all had two hits for the Missionaries, producing an RBI apiece.
Freshman Pat Johnston took the loss for Whitman, giving up 11 runs on 10 hits and seven walks in five-plus innings. Due to three Whitman fielding errors, only six of the runs were earned. Thomas Kost, also a freshman, relieved Johnston, yielding one run on two hits in an inning and a third. Sophomore Oliver Steifel closed the game for Whitman, throwing two scoreless innings.
In game two, Whitman fell behind 4-0 after three innings but then rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth. After Kinney, Fischer and Pollack walked to load the bases, Andrew Shultz doubled to plate a pair of runs.
The Pirates broke the game open with four runs, two of them unearned, in the seventh inning. Whitman scored its final run in the bottom of the seventh when Nickerson tripled and came home on Pollack's infield out.
After stroking 11 hits in the opener, Whitman managed just four hits in the second game.
Sophmore hurler Matt Jungmann pitched into the seventh inning for Whitman, allowing eight runs (only four of them earned) on 12 hits while striking out three. Sophomore Adam Maldonado finished the game, holding the Pirates scoreless the rest of the way.
The Missionaries and Pirates finish their weekend series at Borleske on Sunday with a noon single game.
Late inning heroics denied Whitman's baseball team its third conference victory of the year, as Whitworth completed the three game sweep of the Missionaries 8-7 on Sunday at Borleske stadium in Walla Walla, WA. Whitman falls to 2-10 in conference play, 5-19 overall. The Pirates improve to 11-13, 7-8 in conference.
After watching two Pirate homeruns sail over the fence in the first inning, the Missionaries charged a momentum-swinging two-out rally in the bottom of the second. With two down and runners on first and second Drew Pearsall singled in Whitman's first run of the game. Then a double by sophomore Simon Pollack, followed by a Sean Kinney single gave the Missionaries their first lead of the series.
Whitman was not finished yet. After allowing another Pirate run to cross the plate in the top of the third, Whitman continued its hot-hitting by adding another three-spot in the bottom half of the inning. A Spencer Fox sacrifice fly, an error, and then a Drew Pearsall single atoned for Whitman's three runs. The Missionaries would load the bases forcing a pitching change before the inning was done, but Whitworth senior Jason Myers put a hault to the rally.
Whitworth would then rally to add two in the fourth and one in the fifth to knot the game up at six apeice before Whitman would score again. The Missionaries manufactured their seventh inning run by sandwiching a Fox sacrifice between Shultz and Pearsall singles.
Whitman held their lead until the top of the ninth when the Pirates added two more to go ahead 8-7 leading into the final half inning. The Missionaries advanced a runner to third, but were unable to drive him home.
Pollack, Pearsall, and Shultz all ended up with three hits for the Missonaries. Pearsall scored a run and drove in three more, and Shultz scored two runs of his own.
Pat Thomas went seven innings for Whitman allwoing six runs (five earned) on twelve Pirate hits. Thomas struck out for batters while only walking one. Thomas was releived by Steve Johnson who allowed two runs on two hits in two innings of work.
Whitman is off until Friday when they travel to McMinnville, OR for a three game set with Linfield College. There will be a double-header on Friday begining at noon, followed by the final game on Saturday also at noon.
The Whitman baseball team gave co-Northwest Conference leader Linfield a scare Friday afternoon, but was unable to pull off the upset in an 11-inning 6-5 loss to the Wildcats in McMinnville, Ore. Linfield also took the nightcap, downing the Missionaries 15-1. Whitman fell to 5-21 overall, and 2-12 in conference. Linfield improved to 22-7 and 14-3 to keep pace with George Fox at the top of the standings.
Sophomore hurler Matt Jungmann took the mound in game one and pitched strong into the seventh inning, allowing just one run. Jungmann scattered six hits and struck out one in his outing.
The Missionaries were held scoreless for the first four innings of the game, but notched a run and tied the game in the fifth as Simon Pollack crossed the plate. In the following inning, Whitman put two more on the scoreboard to take a 3-1 lead. With one away, three straight batters singled to load the bases for Spencer Fox. Fox came through and singled to right, bringing Derek Fletcher and Andrew Shultz around the bases.
Fox knocked in another run for the Missionaries in the eighth, and they added one in the ninth to take a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the inning. Unfortunately, Linfield rallied, scoring three runs with just a single hit. Whitman was unable to score during its side of the 10th or 11th, and fell as Linfield produced the game-winner in the 11th.
Freshman Thomas Kost took the loss, but allowed just a single run in two innings.
In addition to Fox, Shultz, Pollack and J.D. Fischer each had two hits. Fischer had one RBI, as did sophomore Brandon Nickerson.
In game two of the twinbill, Linfield jumped on Whitman starter Adam Maldonado early, scoring nine runs in the bottom of the first. The Whitman offense also ran into the live arm of Linfield's Alex Justus, who allowed just three hits in seven innings to run his record to 8-0.
Oliver Stiefel worked the final three innings for Whitman, allowing just one run on three hits.
Pollack singled and scored on a balk to record Whitman's only run of the game. Sean Kinney, Nickerson and Fletcher had the Missionaries' other hits.
The Missionaries play a single game with Linfield on Saturday, with a 1 p.m. start time.
The Whitman baseball dropped the final game of a weekend series to Linfield 10-4 Saturday in McMinnville, Ore. The Missionaries fell to 5-22 on the season, and are 2-13 in Northwest Conference play. With the win the Wildcats took sole possession of first place in the conference, with marks of 23-7 and 15-3.
Brandon Nickerson and Simon Pollack each had a double and a single. Nickerson knocked in two runs for the Missionaries while Pollack brought one runner around to score.
Junior pitcher Pat Thomas went four and two-thirds and took the loss. Thomas allowed all ten runs while striking out three and walking three. Another junior, righty Steve Johnson, continued his strong pitching out of the bullpen. Johnson worked the final three and a third innings without allowing a run, and gave up just two hits.
Linfield took the lead with four runs in the third inning, and added another in the fourth. The Missionaries responded in their half of the fifth, cutting the lead to just a single run. Spencer Fox started the inning off with a single through the right side, and moved to second on Cole Smead's single. Andrew Shultz followed suit and singled up the middle, loading the bases with no outs. Sean Kinney then drew a walk, and Nickerson doubled to center to bring two more runs in. The next three Missionaries went down in order, though, and the inning ended.
Linfield ended any upset hopes in the bottom of the inning, notching five runs to extend its lead to 10-3. Nickerson scored the final run for Whitman in the seventh, and the game ended at 10-4.
The Missionaries return to Borleske next weekend to host the Pacific Boxers in a three-game series. The double-header will start at noon on Saturday, followed by a single game at noon on Sunday.
The Whitman baseball split with visiting Pacific in a pair of one-run games Saturday in Walla Walla, Wash., falling 8-7 in an 11-inning opener but holding on to win the nightcap, 4-3. The Missionaries ran their record to 6-23 overall, and 3-14 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific is 15-17, 7-10.
Whitman has now played in nine games decided by a single run, winning three of them.
Sophomore righty Matt Jungmann threw nine strong innings on the mound for the Missionaries in game one, the longest outing of his career. Jungmann allowed just six hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out two.
The Boxers scored their fist run in the top of the first, and added another in the third. Whitman finally got on the board in the fifth, as J.D. Fischer reached on an error and then crossed the plate on Simon Pollack's single. Fischer also started the rally in the seventh with a double, which produced two runs for the Missionaries. Brandon Nickerson followed up Fischer with an RBI single and later scored on a Derek Fletcher single.
Leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh, the Boxers took advantage of Whitman's second error of the game and scored a single run to tie the game. The contest remained tied until the top of the 11th inning, when Pacific capitalized on two more errors to score the game's winning run. Sean Kinney walked and advanced to second with a single out in the bottom of the inning, but was stranded there as the Missionaries fell 4-3.
Freshman Thomas Kost took the loss for Whitman, allowing one unearned run in the 11th.
Fletcher had three hits in the game, tying his career high. Drew Pearsall and Fischer each had two as the Missionaries compiled 11 as a team.
In the day's second game, Whitman received another strong start, this time from junior Steve Johnson. Johnson, who usually pitches as a reliever, went seven innings in his third start for the Missionaries. He allowed just two earned runs on nine hits, and improved his record to 3-1 on the season. Freshman Thomas Kost worked a scoreless ninth to preserve the 8-7 win and record his first collegiate save.
The Missionaries started off the scoring, plating three runs in game's first two innings. Kinney singled and scored an unearned run in the first, and Andrew Shultz and Spencer Fox scored in the second. Pacific scored the next four runs to take a 4-3 lead, but Whitman exploded in the fifth, scoring four of its own to establish a 7-4 lead. In that inning, Fischer singled to start the rally and was followed by Nickerson's double. Fletcher then grounded out to the first-baseman as Fischer scored. With one away, Shultz knocked in Nickerson and later scored on Pearsall's RBI single. The final run was tallied by Fox.
The Boxers scored three times in the eighth, but Freshman Pat Johnston got a fly-out with two on and two out in the inning to hold the lead. Whitman was unable to score another run, but retired the Boxers in order in the ninth to win, 8-7.
The Missionaries will play Pacific again on Sunday as they attempt to steal the three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.
Sophomore Drew Pearsall exploded for four hits - driving in four runs - as the Whitman baseball team downed Pacific 13-11 in a Northwest Conference contest Sunday afternoon in Walla Walla, Wash. The Missionaries took the three-game series with the win, and are 7-23, 4-14. Pacific fell to 15-18, 7-11.
Pearsall had three singles and a double, pacing a Missionary offense that compiled 15 hits.
Freshman Simon Pollack also hit well, going three for four with four runs scored. Andrew Shultz and Sean Kinney had two hits apiece.
Pat Thomas recorded his first win on the mound, going six innings. Thomas allowed eight hits and four earned runs, while striking out two and walking three.
The Missionaries trailed 3-1 as they came up in the bottom of the fourth, but led 8-3 when the inning was over. Cole Smead and Pearsall had RBI singles that brought in two runs each, and Whitman scored three more on errors by Pacific.
The Boxers responded with two runs in the fifth, but Whitman put up four more in its half to take a 12-5 lead. In that inning, Shultz led off with an in the park homer. Pearsall doubled in two more runs, and scored the fourth on a J. D. Fischer double. That would prove enough to win the game, although Pacific scored six in the final three innings to make things interesting. The Boxers brought the tying run to the plate with one away in the ninth, but freshman pitcher Thomas Kost came in and got two flyouts to record his second save in as many days.
The Missionaries travel to Tacoma, Wash. next weekend to take on Pacific Lutheran.
The Whitman baseball fell 6-3 in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader with Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma, Wash., but responded with a 9-7 victory in the nightcap. The Missionaries have won three of their last four, and stand at 8-24, 5-15. The Lutes, currently in third place in the Northwest Conference, are 21-14, 13-7.
Game one began as a pitcher's duel as both teams remained scoreless through five innings. Whitman broke the tie with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the sixth, but fell behind in the bottom half of the inning 3-2.
The Lutes added to their lead in the eighth, scoring three runs on just two hits. In their final at bat, the Missionaries began a rally, but produced only a single run. Simon Pollack led off the inning with a single, and advanced to second as Sean Kinney drew a walk. Whitman then caught a little bad luck as Drew Pearsall lined out to the first basemen, who then stepped on the bag to double Kinney off. Pollack subsequently scored on an error, but the side was retired and the Missionaries fell 6-3.
Sophomore Matt Jungmann pitched a strong game into the eighth. Jungmann allowed just four hits in his first five innings, and 10 overall. He left the game with two on and two out in the eighth, but those two runners scored as the Missionaries issued four straight walks.
Kinney, Andrew Shultz and Spencer Fox each had two hits, and Whitman compiled nine as a team.
Steve Johnson took to the mound in game two for the Missionaries and worked 7.2 innings to run his record to 4-1. Johnson allowed six hits and four earned runs, walking five and recording one strikeout. Freshamn Thomas Kost pitched the final four outs for his third save of the season.
Sean Kinney and Brandon Nickerson each homered in the contest, the first of the season for both players. Kinney was a perfect four of four at the plate, scoring twice and batting one in. Nickerson ended up a triple short of batting for the cycle as he went three for five at the dish. Nickerson had three RBIs and scored once.
The Missionaries again started off the scoring as Pollack and Pearsall each singled in runs in the second inning. The Lutes matched Whitman with two runs of their own, and each team notched a single run in the third. The game remained tied going into the sixth inning before Whitman rolled off five runs to establish a 8-3 lead. The Lutes cut into the lead with two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, but Whitman held on after scoring once in the ninth to win, 9-7.
Whitman will try to win its second straight NWC series on Sunday in a game slated for noon.
Junior righy Pat Thomas allowed just three runs in seven innings and Freshman Thomas Kost pitched two scoreless innings as the Whitman baseball team held on for a 4-3 victory over Pacific Lutheran Sunday in Tacoma, Wash. The Missionaries took the series with the win, their second straight, and have won four of their last five games. It was also the first series win over the Lutes since the spring 1999 season. Whitman is now 9-24 overall, and 6-15 in Northwest Conference play. Pacific Lutheran fell to 21-15, 13-8.
Thomas allowed two runs in the third and one more in the seventh before handing the ball to Kost in the eighth. Kost gave up a double to his first batter, but then retired six straight, all on flyouts. Thomas won his second game of the year, and Kost recorded his fourth save.
The Missionaries were shutout for the first three innings, but put two on the board in the fourth. Brandon Nickerson singled to start the inning, and advanced to second on a throwing error. With one down, Andrew Shultz doubled, bringing Nickerson home. Spencer Fox followed that up with an RBI single before being thrown out at second on an inning-ending double play.
In the following inning, Sean Kinney reached on an error and rounded the bases as Drew Pearsall doubled down the left field line. Kinney also scored what would be the game winner in the seventh. After singling, Kinney advanced to second as Pearsall was hit by a pitch and took third as J. D. Fischer walked. Nickerson drew a bases loaded walk, bringing Kinney across the plate.
The Lutes plated one run in their half of the seventh, but holding the 4-3 lead with a runner on third and two down, Thomas struck out a Lute to end the threat.
The Missionaries return to Borleske next weekend as they finish up their season with a three game series against Puget Sound.
The Whitman baseball team split a pair of Northwest Conference games with Puget Sound on Saturday in Walla Walla, Wash. The Missionaries fell 8-7 in the first game, but scored first in the nightcap and held on for a 3-1 win. Whitman is now 10-25 on the season, and 7-16 in NWC play. The Loggers are 19-17, 13-10.
Whitman struggled in the field in the first inning of game one, surrendering three unearned runs after committing two errors. The first four Missionaries to step into the box reached base in the bottom of the inning, though, and Whitman produced three runs of its own before being retired.
The Whitman defense settled down in the second, and the Missionaries took the lead as Sean Kinney tripled and trotted home on Drew Pearsall's single. The Loggers went down in order again in the third. Andrew Shultz led off the bottom of the inning with a triple, and was then brought home on a Spencer Fox sacrafice fly.
In the fourth, the Loggers plated two runs on a triple. Kinney doubled and scored again for the Missionaries in their half of the fourth, giving Whitman a 6-5 advantage going into the fifth. Puget Sound brought two more home in the fifth to take the lead, but it was short lived as Shultz doubled in Whitman's half and scored on a Simon Pollack single. The final run of the game went to the Loggers in the sixth as they attempted a double steal with runners on first and second and one down. Spencer Fox threw to second to get the trailing runner, but the ball skipped off the baserunner's ankle into the outfield, allowing the lead runner to cross the plate.
Sophomore Matt Jungmann worked 5.2 innings on the mound, allowing four earned runs on seven hits. Oliver Stiefel came out of the bullpen and went the rest of the way without allowing a run.
Steve Johnson took to the hill in the nightcap for the Missionaries, and threw a one-run gem in eight innings of work. Thomas Kost converted his fifth straight save opportunity by retiring the Loggers in order in the ninth. Johnson ran his record to 5-1 on the season with the win.
Whitman scored all three of its runs in the game's first two innings. With one down in the first, Fischer and Pearsall were each hit by a pitch. Brandon Nickerson then singled to bring Fischer around, and Pearsall scored later on a Shultz sacrafice fly to left. In the second, Ian Warner walked to start the inning later scored as Pearsall grounded into a double play.
The Loggers produced their only run in the sixth. The leadoff hitter tripled, and was brought in two batters later on a double.
Nickerson led the Missionaries with two hits. Whitman managed just six hits in the contest, but played solid defense without committing an error.
The Missionaries will play the Loggers in their final game of the season on Sunday at Borleske, starting at noon.
Playing in its final game of the season, the Whitman baseball team fell 12-1 Sunday to Puget Sound in Walla Walla, Wash. The Loggers took the three-game series with the win, and finished their year 20-17 overall, and 14-10 in Northwest Conference play. The Missionaries finished up 10-26, 7-17, more than doubling their win total from a year ago.
On another hot day at Borleske Stadium, the Missionaries were playing without their starting catcher in the lineup. Spencer Fox wound up with heat stroke after playing all 18 innings of the double-header on Saturday, and backup catcher Matt Jungmann was not available after having pitched on Saturday. Consequently, the Loggers had free reign on the base paths, and swiped 10 bases during the game.
"We weren't exactly at full strength," Whitman coach Casey Powell noted. "There were a couple of things taken out of our hands, and it affected the rest of our game."
The Missionaries had just four hits through the first five innings, and found themselves down 10-0. Whitman put up its only run of the game in the seventh. Ian Warner and Cole Smead each singled with one away, and Warner was brought in by Sean Kinney's RBI single. It looked as if Whitman might continue the rally as Drew Pearsall hit a soft fly into right, but the right fielder was shallow enough that he was able to throw Smead out at third to end the inning.
Kinney and Pearsall each had three hits apiece, and the Missionaries compiled 11 as a team. Kinney's three give raised his average to .396 on the season with 57 hits, the most in recent school history. Kinney also completed his second consecutive season without making an error in the outfield.
Pat Thomas started the game for Whitman and threw 4.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. Thomas struck two out and walked five in his final appearance.
The Missionaries will look to next spring with enthusiasm as they return every player on their roster. "We're really excited," Powell said. "With every player returning from a team that hit over .280 this year, we have a bright future."