SPOKANE, Wash. - Pacific Lutheran University pulled away late in both halves of Sunday's Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader to runaway for 12-5 and 15-2 wins over Whitworth University and complete the four-game series sweep. The visiting Lutes improved to 18-12-2 overall and 15-9 in the NWC while the Pirates dropped to 11-23, 10-18.

Pacific Lutheran 12, Whitworth 5 (box score)

Whitworth pulled within 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning before PLU outscored the Pirates 7-1 over the final two frames.

Trey Watt (4-1) went the distance for the Lutes, allowing five runs (four earned) on 12 hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in seven complete innings. Ryan Snell (1-6) was credited with the loss, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 15 hits in 5.2 innings.

Matt Akridge had a pair of doubles and hit his third home run of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh, to complete the PLU scoring. He finished 3 for 5, leading the team with three runs batted in and three runs scored. Jordan Post went 4 for 5, while Ryan Aratani and Matt Wolford each drove in a pair of runs.

Dan Ramsey led the Pirates, going 2 for 3 with a pair of runs driven in. Jon Whiteside went 3 for 4 with two runs scored.

Pacific Lutheran 15, Whitworth 2 (box score)

PLU led 6-0 heading to the sixth inning, then outscored the Pirates 9-2 the rest of the way.

Lead off hitter Josh Takayoshi, along with Akridge, provided the spark at the top of the order. Each finished with three hits and three RBIs. Akridge, batting second, hit his second home run of the day, while Takayoshi scored three times.

Whiteside and Ben George each had a pair of hits for the Pirates.

Brett Brunner threw the first six innings for PLU to improve to 2-3 this season. He allowed one run on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Collin Gibbs fell to 1-6 for Whitworth, allowing six runs on 11 hits in 4.1 innings.

Whitworth play a pair of games against NAIA power Lewis-Clark State College this coming week. The Pirates travel to Lewiston on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. start, then host the Warriors at Merkel Field on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.