BOX SCORE
WALLA WALLA, Ore. - Sophomore pitcher Eliot Smith pitched a complete game on Sunday afternoon, helping guide the Lewis & Clark baseball team past the Whitman Missionaries in game three of the Northwest Conference series. The Pioneers came from behind to earn a 5-3 victory.
The victory snaps the Pioneers 11 game losing streak and improves them to 2-12 on the season and 1-8 in conference action. Whitman falls to 3-14 on the year and 2-4 in the NWC.
The Pioneers got on the board in the second inning after a Whitman throwing error with the bases loaded allowed Sam Holman to score from third. The inning began with a Roland Greene lead-off double to left center, followed by back-to-back hit batters. With the bases juiced, Nick Lavin grounded back to the pitcher who threw home for an out, but the catcher sent the ball sailing high into right field trying to get Lavin out on the double play.
Whitman countered in its half of the inning, evening the score on a throwing error on a Missionary bunt that allowed a runner to come in from third. Pitcher Aaron Cohen helped his own cause in the sixth inning, hitting an RBI double to right-center to score Eric Korsmo from first base, putting the home team up 2-1.
Down to its least at bat, Lewis & Clark rallied from behind to capture a 5-2 advantage. The inning started off with a single up the middle from Michael Ball, who moved into scoring position on a stolen base. With the next Pio at bat, Giuseppe Baffaro reached base on a one-hop to the Whitman third baseman. With two runners on base, Tucker Laurence laid down a bunt back to the pitcher, who bobbled the ball and sent it flying into foul territory, allowing Ball to score. Tied 2-2, Greene grounded to the shortstop allowing another Pioneer run to score. With two outs, Smith helped his own cause with an RBI double to right center. A blooper to shallow center from Nick Lavin allowed Smith to score to close out the Pioneers comeback.
Whitman scored a run in the bottom half of the inning and put tying runs on base, but Smith was able to work out of jam, securing his complete game victory.
Next up the Pioneers will host Corban at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15.
