WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Starting pitcher Nick Johnson worked his way through seven-plus innings of solid work on the mound Saturday afternoon for Whitman College but visiting University of Puget Sound rallied from one run down in the top of the eighth off a trio of Missionaries relievers to close out a sweep of the three-game set with a 12-4 Northwest Conference victory under -- finally -- sunny skies at Borleske Stadium.

Whitman slips to 9-20 overall and 4-11 within the league while the Loggers improve to 12-14 and 9-9, respectively.

Johnson scattered five hits through seven innings Saturday surrendering a run in the third after a leadoff single and then two more on a tying home run just inside the left field foul pole in the next frame.

Whitman had jumped in front in the bottom of the second, sparked by Anthony Lim's lead-off single into right field. A Paul Heywood single, Cole Edwards double and one Logger error gave Johnson a three-run cushion as he stepped to the mound at the top of the third.

The teams clamped down on scoring after Nathan Backes's home run that had knotted things at 3-3, but Whitman would regain the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Patrick Stanton worked for a one-out walk, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Two batters later Lucas Thrun brought Stanton home with an RBI-single that lifted Whitman back in front once again.

The fateful eighth started innocently enough with a double followed by a sacrifice bunt off Johnson. That was a deep enough start for Johnson who gave way to Garrett Atkinson with a runner on third and one out. Atkinson, Matt Hill and John Lyon then combined to surrender a series of four straight walks followed by thee consecutive singles to get the Loggers' rally rolling in what would end up as a back-breaking nine-run eighth inning.

Whitman put base runners on in the bottom of the eighth and ninth but was unable to create its own rally in what may be the Whitties' first game played without rain since the team's trip to Arizona three weeks ago.

Johnson was charged with a no decision giving up four runs on six hits and a walk while fanning three in 7.1 innings. Atkinson (2-2) took the loss for Whitman.

At the plate both Thrun and Lim finished the day with multi-hit games. Thrun, Heywood, Edwards and Jasper Crusberg each collected one RBI apiece in the loss for the Missionaries who head out on the road for their next conference series, a three-game set at Lewis & Clark College Saturday and Sunday in Portland, Oregon.