FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Visiting Whitworth scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally for a 4-2 win and a split of a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Sunday at Pacific University. The Boxers held on to win the opener 3-2.
The Pirates remained even at 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the NWC this season while Pacific is now 3-6, 1-1. The teams will complete their four-game set on Monday with a second doubleheader.
Game 1: Pacific 3, Whitworth 2
The Boxers took advantage of the Pirates' defensive mistakes in the fifth inning to score the decisive runs.
Pacific didn't get a hit off Pirate starter Corinne Vasiloff until the third inning when Alexus Carter's single drove in Kayla Kodani with the game's first run.
The first two batters of the fifth inning reached base for Pacific after consecutive errors by the Whitworth infield. After a stolen base moved runners to second and third, Chloe Knepp came through with the timely single to drive in two runs, giving the Boxers a 3-0 lead.
Pacific pitcher Mia Barrozo cruised through the first five innings. In the sixth Jazz Johnson drew a two-out walk and Taylor Hoffheins followed with a home run to pull the Pirates within a run.
Whitworth was able to get a runner on base in the seventh, but could not score the tying run.
Bazzoro scattered five hits over seven innings to improve to 2-3 this season. Hoffheins was the only Whitworth batter with two hits in the game.
Vasiloff was the tough-luck losing pitcher after allowing only one earned run on two hits and two walks in six innings. She struck out five Boxers.
Game 2: Whitworth 4, Pacific 2
The Pirates turned the tables and took advantage of a Boxer defensive miscue to score the go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh inning, allowing Momi Lyman to pitch a complete-game victory.
Whitworth took a 1-0 lead in the third on Mattea Nelson's RBI double that scored Grace Bestabreur. Pacific tied it 1-1 in the bottom of the third when Nicole Leadley singled in a run.
The Boxers went ahead 2-1 in the fourth on Rylee Patton's run-scoring double.
The game appeared lost after the Pirates loaded the bases in the top of the sixth inning, but could not score. Undeterred, Whitworth started the seventh with Bestabreur's leadoff walk and Haley Montoya's double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Nelson's bloop-double drove in Bestabruer, but Montoya had to hold her break and stopped at third. After a strikeout, Heather Menzer was at the plate for Whitworth. She smoked a line drive caught at third base, but the throw to second base to double off Nelson sailed into right field, allowing both Montoya and Nelson to score.
Lyman (2-1) retired the Boxers in order in the seventh to finish off her four-hit victory. She struck out six batters.
Lindsey Greenfield (0-3) took the loss for Pacific.
