SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth softball team fell to Pacific Lutheran in a pair of doubleheaders in the home opener at Marks Field on Saturday afternoon. Whitworth falls to 5-7 on the season, 2-4 in Northwest Conference action, while Pacific Lutheran improves to a 4-2 overall and conference record.
Game 1 – Pacific Lutheran 12, Whitworth 1 (6 innings)
The Lutes earned the first run of the weekend in the first inning, and then added seven more to the scoreboard before the Pirates were able to get one back in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Bucs took advantage of throwing error that moved junior Hanna Boyd to third base. Sophomore Riley Fritz earned Whitworth's lone RBI of the game as she flied out to right field, but scored Boyd on the play. Pacific Lutheran tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning to take the 12-1 victory.
Sophomore Taylor Gilbert (1-4) takes the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in two innings pitched. Leah Butters (3-0) earned the win, giving up one hit and one run in six innings pitched.
Sophomore Sacha Clow had Whitworth's only hit in the game, a single to center field in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Game 2 – Pacific Lutheran 8, Whitworth 0
The Pirates were able to hold the Lutes scoreless through the first inning, but the Bucs were unable to get on the scoreboard themselves. After Pacific Lutheran went ahead 1-0 in the second inning, both teams went scoreless in the third inning. The Lutes quickly made up ground though, scoring two runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the sixth inning to sweep the first day of Whitworth's home opener.
Sophomore Megan Fisher (0-2) takes the loss, facing 33 batters in five innings and giving up seven runs on nine hits. Kaaren Hatlen earns the win in the shutout, facing 24 batters and only giving up three hits.
Junior Makenzie Hope, Riley Fritz and senior Jamie Brunner each had a hit in the sixth inning for the Bucs. Hope singled to third base, while Fritz and Brunner singled up the middle.
Whitworth and Pacific Lutheran will wrap up the weekend with a doubleheader on Sunday, with the first game beginning at noon.
