WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Whitman College baseball team played its final Northwest Conference doubleheader on Friday, sweeping Lewis & Clark with a narrow 5-4 game one win and a dominant 10-4 victory in the nightcap.

Game 1
The opener saw the Blues get up early and hold on in the ninth inning for the win. Kevin Nakamura had two runs, two hits and an RBI, Jerick Nomura contributed two hits, one run and an RBI and Travis Craven (4-5) earned the win in seven innings of work.

The Blues struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. David Johnson (1 H, 1 R), who had singled and advanced to second on a Jake Wishart sacrifice bunt, trotted home when Nakamura delivered a run-scoring double to right field. Two batters later, Tyler Lewis ripped a pitch through the left side of the infield to score Nakamura for the two-run lead.

Whitman struck again two innings later, taking advantage of a couple of Pio miscues to score a pair of unearned runs and lead 4-0 heading to the fifth.

The Pios got right back in it on the heels of an inside-the-park homerun from Matt Donovan (1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI). Wishart and Lewis collided on his gapper to right centerfield, allowing one runner to score and Donovan to touch every base to shave the lead to 4-3.

Craven would be lifted for Milo Mincin one inning later, but in an unfortunate turn of events Mincin felt discomfort in his throwing arm during warmups and left the game before even throwing a pitch. Collin Anderson came on and was able to retire the side.

The ninth inning was packed with drama as the Pios loaded the bases with no outs. Jack Thomson shaved the lead to one, scoring from third on a passed ball from an offering by Charlie Carmichael. After Donovan was issued an intentional walk two batters later to load the bases with two outs, Carmichael came through to earn his first save, forcing a popup to centerfield to end the threat.

Craven allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings. Dominic Monozon (2-7) was tagged with the loss for the Pios.

Game 2
The backend of the doubleheader saw a monster three two extra-base hit performance from Wishart (2 H, 1 R, 3 RBI) and a two-run homerun from Lewis (2 H, 2 R, 3 RBI) lead the Blues to a dominant 10-4 win.

Eric Ma was impressive in improving to 6-1 on the season. He tossed seven complete innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out a season-high 10 Pio hitters. Nat Richmond lasted only one and a third innings in earning the loss.

Whitman plated four runs runs over the first two innings. After picking up a run in the first, the Blues picked up three more in the second to go up 4-0. Four consecutive hits, including an RBI double from Wishart, led to the big inning.

Wishart was at it again in the fifth. Cole Edwards laid down a perfect bunt, reaching base safely and putting running on second and third. Wishart then ripped a double to the left field wall, clearing the bases and to put the Blues up 7-1.

Lewis all but put the game away with his roundtripper in the seventh. After Wishart tripled then scored on a wild pitch, Anthony Nevoso drew a one out walk. Lewis then tagged a Brian Tatman pitch to bring the lead to nine runs.

Whitman and Lewis & Clark conclude their series tomorrow which begins with a special Senior Day ceremony prior to the 12:00 p.m. first pitch.