Katelyn McLean | Sports Editor
David Bedell had a standout night with a walk-off single that won game one for the Pirates. He was also one of the three Pirates who contributed home runs to the victory in game two.
Game one was a close back-and-forth battle. Lewis and Clark scored first, and then Whitworth took the lead in the fourth inning. The Pioneers took the lead back in the seventh, but the Pirates rallied back to tie the game in the eighth inning.
Closing pitcher Hunter Dryden prevented Lewis and Clark from scoring in the top of the ninth inning, and the stage was set for Whitworth to win the game.
Dawson Warner hit a single, Brendan Duncan hit a double, and then Jaxen Sweum, who had two hits and three runs-batted-in on the day, was intentionally walked to load the bases and bring up Bedell.
“Oh, it was all excitement from there. I was ready to swing,” Bedell said.
A single run in the bottom of the ninth would end the game with a Whitworth win, and Bedell was in prime position to accomplish that feat.
At the beginning of the [at bat], l watched a fastball down the middle. I was not happy with that and then swung at a curveball in the dirt. I wasn’t happy with that either,” Bedell said.
However, the at-bat turned around for Bedell after that.
I had to get it, get under it and elevate, and that’s what I ended up doing,” he said.
The single scored Warner from third base to win the game, and the team immediately rushed the field to congratulate Bedell and spray water on him from water bottles.
Thursday’s game two was also a close contest, but Whitworth scored four runs in the fourth inning – all home runs – to take and keep the lead.
Sweum hit a solo home run to open the fourth inning, and in the next at bat, Bedell hit a solo home run as well.
The Pirates won the second game 5-3. The two victories were especially sweet considering that this was the last weekend that the team played at home.
We’re a good team, and we’re not just going to back down because we’re out of the tournament play,” Bedell said.
Whitworth baseball’s seven seniors were honored before the two games on Friday. The team lost both Friday games, 5-3 and 13-10.
The team originally missed the NWC tournament, but becomes the fourth seed after Whitman backed out, and will play on Thursday, May 13 at noon in Forest Grove, Oregon against Pacific. The game will be available to livestream on Whitworthpirates.com.
