by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

MILWAUKIE, Ore. – The Lewis & Clark Pioneers swept the visiting Whitworth Pirates in Saturday's Northwest Conference softball doubleheader, coming back from a four-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh in game two.

The Pirates and Pioneers played at Milwaukie High School due to weather-related issues. Lewis & Clark (2-6, 2-4 NWC) trailed late in both games, but managed to grind out its first two wins of the season. Whitworth drops to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Game 1 – Lewis & Clark 3, Whitworth 2

Lewis & Clark came back from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth to earn its first win of the season in the series opener.

The Pioneers threatened in the bottom of the second after loading the bases with no outs but could not do any early damage as Drea Schwaier-Wolf stranded all three runners to keep the game tied.

Whitworth broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth as Maddy Thomas hit her third home run of the season, a two-RBI blast to left field, to bring the score to 2-0.

Lewis & Clark took the 3-2 lead after a five-hit bottom of the sixth. The Pioneers opened the inning with four consecutive base hits. Jane Wilson drove in the first two runs and scored on a single by Megan Richardson.  

Alyssa Abe got the start in the circle for the Pioneers and gave up two runs on three hits in 3.1 innings. Megan Anderson (1-2) got the win in relief, allowing just one hit over the closing 3.2 innings.

Schwaier-Wolf (3-3) took the loss, allowing seven hits and three runs (two earned) over six innings for the Pirates.

Game 2 – Lewis & Clark 6, Whitworth 5

Lewis & Clark trailed 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh but pulled off the win with a five-run rally, scoring the winning run on a walk-off walk.  

Whitworth got out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second. Brynn Radke drove in Thomas and Heather Menzer with a three-RBI home run to right field.

The Pioneers grabbed a run in the bottom half on an RBI-single from Kalea Kaui.

Sara Gayer added on another Pirate run in the top of the fifth with a single through the right side, to drive home Kaylie Lowery. The Pirate defense got out of a bases-loaded bottom half of the inning with one out after throwing out Kami Merrill at the plate followed by a groundout.  

Delayna Waite hit the Pirates' third home run of the day, a solo homer to left in the bottom of the sixth, to bring their advantage to 5-1.

The Pioneers scored five runs on four hits in the seventh inning comeback for the 6-5 victory. Anderson (2-2) got her second win of the day in the circle, pitching the final inning.

Kylie Harris got the start for Whitworth and allowed one run on four hits over five innings. Rose Meshell (1-3) took the loss in the circle for the Pirates after allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits in 1.1 innings of relief.

Up next: Whitworth and Lewis & Clark play the second half of the series tomorrow at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.