SPOKANE, Wash. – A cloudy day at Merkel Field contrasted the bright start Sunday for Whitman College's baseball team as it led by three runs early then by two runs in the fourth, but host Whitworth University picked up the equalizing runs in the bottom half of that inning then later completed its come-from-behind rally to down the Missionaries 10-5 in Northwest Conference action.

The loss leaves Whitman's record at 3-12 overall and 2-4 within the league, while the Pirates continue their unbeaten start as they raise their records to 11-0 and 3-0, respectively.

The Missionaries jumped to the lead with three runs in the top of the first only to see Whitworth pull even with three runs, one an unearned tally, in the bottom of the frame. One run each in the top of the second and fourth innings pushed the Whitties back in front, 5-3, as they tried to put a blemish on the Pirates' early-season start.

Lead-off batter Joseph Zimmer factored into each of the scoring innings for Whitman, starting with a double to right-center field to begin the game. Jake Wishart beat out the throw on a bunt to reach safely and push Zimmer to third, and both runners came in to score on Adrian Vela's fourth home run of the season, a three-RBI shot to left field that put a crooked number up on the scoreboard after only the afternoon's first three batters.

The lead faded in the bottom of the first but Zimmer lifted Whitman ahead again in the top of the second with a two-out shot, his second homer of the spring, near where Vela's cleared the fence for a 4-3 Whitman advantage.

Zimmer added his second RBI of the game with a clutch two-out double to right-center that scored Alec Rainsford who had doubled to left with one out in the fourth.

The disheartening blows in the afternoon came in the bottom of the frame, however, as Whitworth's Jeremy Druffel and Matthew Nelson banged out back-to-back solo home runs with two outs to tie the conference clash at 5-5.

Pirates pitchers limited Whitman to one hit and two base runners over the final four innings while the Whitworth bats added a run in the fifth, one in the sixth and three more in the seventh to finish off the rally and complete a three-game weekend sweep on its home turf.

Steven Ainsworth (0-3) took the loss for Whitman surrendering five runs, four earned, on seven hits over 3 and 1/3 innings of work after coming in for game-starter Henry Lin to get the final out in the fourth. Lin's numbers were identical to Ainsworth's, four earned and one unearned run on seven hits in his 3.2 innings on the mound. Braden Hussey came on for Ainsworth to start the eighth and allowed a harmless single up the middle in his near-perfect inning of relief.

Zimmer finished with a 3-for-4 afternoon, scoring twice and knocking in two. Lucas Thrun also registered a multi-hit game for the Whitties with a 2-for-4 afternoon.

Sunday's contest was the last before Whitman's trip South for the Tucson Invitational where it will play five games in three days between March 5–7.