The Pioneers won both games of Saturday's doubleheader at
Whitman, 12-5 (box
score) and 12-4 (box score). Ryan
Kostecka had three hits, driving in four runs for the Pioneers.
In game one, the Pioneers took a 3-0 lead in the third inning.
Sami Morgan (sophomore, San Mateo, Calif.) led off the inning
singling to short. The Pioneers loaded the bases with a walk and
two hit batsmen. With two outs, Mike Orr hit a ball to right field
that was bobbled by the right fielder, allowing three runs to
score.
The Missionaries scored one run in the sixth and three in the
seventh. The Pioneers answered with an eventful eighth inning in
which they sent 12 men to bat, plating eight runs on just four
hits, including a two-RBI double from Roland Greene (freshman,
Encinitas, Calif.) and a two-RBI triple by Ryan Kostecka (freshman,
Napa, Calif.). The Pioneers added their final run in the ninth when
Sami Morgan doubled to start the inning, coming around to score on
a double by Sam Holman (freshman, Eugene, Ore.).
Dan Meehan (senior, Lake Oswego, Ore.) got the win, working
seven innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits. He
walked three and struck out five.
In game two, the Pioneers put forth a steady stream of offense,
scoring 12 runs on 17 hits in their 12-4 victory. They scored their
first run in the second inning. Neal Finch (junior, Boulder, Colo.)
hit a one-out single. Jordan Shibata (senior, Pearl City, Hawaii)
singled to drive him in.
After Whitman tied the game in the third, the Pioneers went up
2-1 in the fourth, on a lead-off double by Chris Estrella (senior,
Henderson, Nevada) followed by an RBI single by Neal Finch. Finch
drove in the third run for the Pioneers in the fifth, singling to
center after Whitman issued a pair of two-out walks to Pioneer
hitters.
In the sixth, AJ Brown (junior, Vancouver, Wash.) hit an RBI
double to increase the Pioneer lead to 4-1. Whitman scored two runs
in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-3.
The Pioneers scored five runs in the seventh. Chris Estrella hit
his first home run of the season, a solo shot to start the scoring.
The Pioneers loaded the bases later in the inning, with Jordan
Shibata hitting a double to drive in two more runs. AJ Brown and
Sami Morgan drove in the other two.
The Pioneers added two more runs in the eighth. Ryan Kostecka
hit his second triple of the day to make it an 11-3 game. The
Pioneers final run came in the ninth inning when the Pioneers
loaded the bases and Whitman walked in a run. The Missionaries
scored one run in the ninth for the final score of 12-4.
Alex St. Pierre (freshman, Laguna Hills, Calif.) got his first
collegiate victory. St. Pierre worked six innings, allowing three
runs (two earned) on four hits. He walked four and struck out five.
Evan Fairmont (junior, Boulder, Colo.) earned the save, working
three innings, allowing just one run on four hits.
Offensively, Neal Finch was 4-5 in the second game, driving in
two runs, scoring three. Ryan Kostecka had three hits in the
two games, going 3-7 with a pair of triples, driving in four runs.
Sami Morgan was 3-5 with three runs scored in the first game.
With the wins, the Pioneers improve to 7-15 (5-13 NWC).
The two teams wrap up the series tomorrow in Walla Walla,
playing two seven-inning games. First pitch is at 12 noon.
