SPOKANE, Wash. - Quarterback Erik Bainter ran for a score and threw for another but it wasn't enough on Saturday inside the Pine Bowl as the Pacific Lutheran University football team capped off the abbreviated 2021 spring season with a 56-23 setback at the hands of Northwest Conference rival Whitworth University.

"The list of things this group of players has weathered through this spring is long and I'm so proud of how they attacked the process," said Head Coach Brant McAdams.

"We went into the season with the mindset of showing improvement from the year before. We've done that in some areas and exposed some areas that need improvement. What I'm confident in is the ability to make those improvements because we have a team of coaches and players who have what it takes to cultivate stronger trust, to embrace the work process required to be great, and to do it all with first class character. We have our seniors to thank for helping us build those values."

After stalling on their opening two drives of the game, the host Pirates (4-0) came alive, scoring on their next five possessions to take a 35-3 halftime lead.

PLU (0-4) got on the board midway through the second half, building an eight-play, 54-yard drive that culminated in a career-long 39-yard field goal from Peiyton Hillard. An 18-yard reception by Alex Rendon kickstarted the drive that also benefited from a 12-yard rush from Malik White, two additional completions to Rendon, and a nine-yard scamper from Bainter.

The Lutes found the endzone midway through the third quarter with Bainter connecting with Cedric Miles for a 45-yard score. Pacific Lutheran was back in the endzone later in the period with Bainter scrambling 19-yards for a score with 1:44 left in the third.

In the fourth a Regan Divina interception set up the Lute offense on the Whitwoth 26-yard line. Raysen Motoyama hauled in an 11-yard reception before Laakea Ane finished off the drive with a five yard run with 5:14 remaining in what turned out to be the final score of the contest.

Bainter finished the game 13-for-19 with 145 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, the sophomore added 46 yards on nine carries while White racked up 40 yards on the day, averaging 6.7 yards per touch. Rendon paced the receiving corps with five catches for 66 yards while Wesley Nixon hauled on four passes.

Kalen Davis-White led the defense with seven tackles and 2.5 TFLs while Chase Rhinelander added six tackles. Punter Max Boekenoogen boomed eight punts for 345 yards, averaging 43.1 yards per kick with three landing inside the 20-yard line.