SPOKANE, Wash. – Landon Scott and Tyler Pfeffer each drilled two-run homers to lead Whitworth to a 7-1 win over visiting Pacific Lutheran on Sunday at Merkel Field, giving the Pirates (11-6-1 overall, 5-1 NWC) a series victory over the Lutes (11-7, 6-3).

Pirate pitchers C.J. Perry and Dan Scheibe combined to scatter eight hits as Whitworth staked an early spot atop the league standings in the chase for the NWC championship.

Scott's second home run of the season gave the Pirates a quick lead.  With one out in the bottom of the first, Nick Motsinger drew a walk and Scott followed with his shot to right-center. Whitworth added a run in the second on an error after three straight singles had loaded the bases.

Scott led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and Pfeffer hit his fourth homer of the season to give the Pirates a 5-0 lead.

Brock Gates got the Lutes within 5-1 in the sixth with his fourth home run of the season. 

Gerhard Muelheims singled with the bases loaded in the eighth to drive in Whitworth's final two runs of the game.

Perry (2-1) started on the mound for the Pirates and earned the win by giving up no runs despite scattering seven hits.  Scheibe tossed the final four innings to pick up the save and the only hit he allowed was the home run by Gates.  Scheibe struck out five batters and walked two.

Nathan Eisenhauer (3-1) suffered his first pitching defeat of the season after allowing five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in four innings.  Trevor Lubking threw the final four innings for PLU.

The Lutes return to conference action next weekend when they host Puget Sound in a three-game series, including a Saturday doubleheader starting at noon.

(Courtesy of Whitworth Sports Information Office.)