PORTLAND, Ore. - (From Melissa Dudek, L&C SID) Lewis & Clark earned a 10-6 victory over visiting Whitworth on Sunday afternoon in the final game of a three-game Northwest Conference baseball series at the Huston Sports Complex.

Van Lierman hit his first home run of 2007

It was apparent from the first inning that the two teams would be battling not only one another but the brisk wind swirling through the park. With temperatures in the high sixties and the forecasted rains staying away, it was otherwise perfect baseball weather.

The Pioneers, whose offense struggled in the first two games of the series, wasted no time in this game to change that. The first three batters for the Pioneers each had a hit, the third hit being a home run to deep left center off the bat of Greg Williams. Pirate starter Jon Hauck settled down after the bases were emptied and struck out the side. Hauck, however, got into more trouble in the second inning when the Pioneers' Mike Giardina homered to right. After a deep fly to left off the bat of the next Pioneer batter, the Pirates went to their bullpen and slowed down the Pioneer offense.

The Pirates got back into the game with a run in the top of the third. Centerfielder Van Lierman further cut into the L&C lead when he led off the fourth with a solo home run. The Pirates loaded the bases in the fourth with just one out, but Pioneer starter Eric Muraoka got back-to-pack infield pop ups to retire the side.

In the sixth inning, a Pirate rally was cut short on what looked to be a routine sacrifice fly to center fielder. The Pioneers' centerfielder, Greg Williams, came up firing and got an outfield assist as the Pirates Nate Rodland was tagged out while trying to advance from third.

The best case of wind affecting the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Pioneers got two hits that were pop-ups blown away from the Pirate trying to field them. The swirling winds helped the Pioneers score two runs that inning.

Whitworth again threatened in the ninth inning, loading the bases. The Pioneers moved utility man Sami Morgan to the mound and he got a fly ball and an infield grounder to earn his first save of the season.

For the Pirates, Alex Scarpelli capped off his strong series with a 3-4 performance, scoring two runs and driving in one. For the Pioneers Greg Williams and Mike Giardina each drove in three runs. Jordan Shibata went 3 for 5 with two runs scored.

The Pirates Jon Hauck takes the loss, falling to 0-2 on the season. Eric Muraoka earns his second win, improving to 2-0 on the year. Morgan got the save.