The Pirates baseball team finished their second road trip of non conference play going 3-0 against Whitman, Willamette and Lewis and Clark. These non-conference matchups won’t count toward the Bucs conference record, but are a terrific indicator that the Bucs will be a force to be reckoned with this season. The Bucs are currently 5-1  with their only loss to Pomona-Pitzer by a score of 3-5. 

“The lineup has changed a lot with the leave of our three top hitters but some new guys have stepped up really well,” said junior outfielder Grayson O’Neil. 

Senior outfielder Ben Wintringer and sophomore outfielder Jaxsen Sweum have been huge offensive pieces for the Pirates. Sweum leads the team with two runs through six games and is batting .389. Wintringer leads the team in batting average at .429 and has tallied a team high nine hits.  

“Jaxsen Sweum has been a big bat in the lineup and already has two home runs in the 4 spot. I expect him to earn an all conference team nod,” O’Neil said.  

The Pirates pitching staff has shown out to begin the season and has dominated opposing offenses. The team ERA is sitting at frugal 2.67. Senior pitcher Matt Young has seemingly returned to midseason form, leading the team in ERA, strikeouts and boasting an undefeated record. 

The Pirates will look to regain their place as an elite program in the NWC and make another bid for the conference championship. 

The Bucs’ next outing will be a road trip to Los Angeles to face off against Occidental College on Saturday, Feb. 22.