Corina Gebbers Staff Writer
ARTS&CULTURE OPINIONS Photographer: Chrissy Roach Freshman shortstop Nick Motsinger makes a throw to first for a double play during Saturday’s home game against Pacific University.
VOL 102 ISSUE 14
Contact Corina Gebbers at cgebbers15@my.whitworth.edu.
APRIL 18, 2012
fifth when Takemura was hit by a pitch, advanced to second when Motsinger grounded out to the catcher, and scored off Muelheims RBI single to center field. Pacific also scored in the fifth, plating their lone run of the game. But the Boxers had several opportunities to take the lead, leaving 13 runners on base by game’s end. “In the dugout the players knew we were going to win,” Takemura said. “But we gave [Pacific] too many shots.” Spencer Ansett pitched the first six innings, allowing one run off seven hits. Jason Renner finished the game, grabbing his sixth save of the season. “We used a lot of the momentum we had from the second game [on Saturday],” Muelheims said. “Holding those guys to one run took away some of their confidence.” Whitworth improved its record to 13-5 in NWC action, just one game behind Pacific in conference standings, and will face Willamette University in Salem, Ore., April 21 and 22.
WHITPICS
game of a series before and ended up ters with no walks. In his past two pitching performances for the Bucs he has winning the next two games.” Whitworth grabbed an early 2-0 lead struck out 25 batter without a walk, and in game two after Motsinger walked his presence on the mound Saturday and Pfeffer singled up the middle to secured the win for the Pirates, as Pascore Motsinger in the first inning. Mill- cific scored just one run off six hits. “The second game Dan threw great,” er singled to right field in the second inning, advanced to second base on a Takemura said. “He gave us a lot of conbalk, then to third when senior center fidence by shutting them down.” It took until the fourth inning for fielder Kevin Valerio grounded out to second base, and scored on freshman either team to earn a run on Sunday, but after Scott right fielder Erik Nikssarian’s single to “We started a little slow singled to center field, he scored off left field. “I think this whole but I think the confidence Valerio’s sacrifice fly. Jarrell got on year we’ve done a came when the series base with a single great job coming got going.” up the middle, back from losses,” and then scored Takemura said. “We — Michael Takemura thanks to Nikssarwanted to punch senior ian’s RBI single back.” through the left Pfeffer’s three-run homer in the third and Nikssarian’s side. “I think it was pretty key that we got homerun in the fourth boasted a 6-0 lead for the Bucs. Senior first baseman on the board first,” Muelheims said. JR Jarrell’s RBI single brought Pfeffer “Scoring those two runs was big espehome again in the fifth inning to score cially because it was right after an inning where they had the bases loaded Whitworth’s final run. Freshman pitcher Dan Scheibe and we struck their guy out.” Whitworth’s final run came in the pitched a full game, striking out 12 bat-
SPORTS
In a Northwest Conference baseball show down last weekend, second place Whitworth met conference leader Pacific on Merkel Field in a best out-ofthree game series that went to the wire. The Pirates were topped 6-2 by the Boxers in the opening game Saturday, but took control in the nightcap, gaining a 7-1 victory that boosted them to 3-1 win on Sunday. “We haven’t been in the situation to win the conference in a very long time,” senior catcher Michael Takemura said. “We started a little slow but I think the confidence came when the series got going.” After sophomore second baseman Gerhard Muelheims doubled in the first inning, senior third baseman Landon Scott drove him home on a single that put the first run on the board for either team. “We thought we’d be able to keep adding on after that first run,” Muelheims said. “[But] their pitcher was throwing really well [and] we had a tough time seeing the ball.” But Pacific answered with a flurry of runs over the next three innings, scoring six runs, while Whitworth struggled to connect at the plate. Freshman shortstop Nick Motsinger got the offense rolling with a single to third base in the sixth inning, and Whitworth scored its second run off sophomore left fielder Tyler Pfeffer’s sacrifice fly to right field. “I thought the first game we were a little tight [but] the second game we played pretty loose,” Takemura said. “These games didn’t mean anything unless we won them out.” After freshman pitcher Carson Blumenthal tossed the first four innings, freshman pitcher Nick Scourey stepped on the mound and shut out Pacific in five innings of relief. But the Pirates were unable to close in on the Boxers’ lead, and with the loss surrendered the top spot in the conference to Pacific for now; final conference standings have not been determined. “Everyone was disappointed we lost,” Muelheims said. “But we’ve lost the first
NEWS
Pirates win crucial series, take two of three against conference-leader Pacific
CONTENTS
Sports Baseball takes on Pacific for NWC lead
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