SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth softball will be on the road this weekend for a four-game series against Eastern Oregon following a trio of split doubleheaders in California last weekend.

Check the Whitworth softball schedule for live links to all the weekend's action, including streaming and stats.

The Pirates: Whitworth (3-3) split all three doubleheaders in California last weekend, going 1-1 against Pomona-Pitzer on Friday, Redlands on Saturday, and La Verne on Sunday.

The Pirates were shutout 5-0 in game one against P-P but won 4-2 to even the series on Friday. Momi Lyman got the win in that one, striking out five and allowing two earned runs in a complete game. Julia Dillon led the offense, going 3-4 with two RBIs and a run of her own. Haley Montoya also homered in that one to cushion the lead.

On Saturday, Whitworth beat Redlands 7-5 in a nine-inning thriller before a 9-4 loss in game two. Mackenzie Nine came up with perhaps the hit of the day in game one, a seventh inning double to score the tying pair of runs and send the game to extra innings at 4-4. Corinne Vasiloff pitched all nine innings, throwing an astonishing 132 pitches and allowing just two earned runs. In game two the Pirates found themselves in an 8-0 hole after four innings. Reagan Ellis drove in a pair of runs with a double as Whitworth staved off the mercy rule and cut the deficit to 8-3, but ultimately fell short.

 Whitworth was dominant over La Verne in game one on Sunday. Vasiloff (2-1) got her second win of the weekend pitching a complete game shutout, Montoya sparked the offense with a 3-3 day at the plate and the Pirates won 7-0. But Whitworth came up short in the weekend's finale. Down 4-0 in the fifth, the Pirates pushed three across the plate with help from Jessica Rusconi's two-run single. The Leopards responded with three of their own in the sixth, and they managed to hold off Whitworth's rally.

The Pirates batted .248 last weekend, posted a .355 slugging percentage, a .314 on base percentage on 15 walks, scoring 27 runs. Dillon comes out of opening weekend tied for first in batting average with Jazz Johnson (.300) but leads the team with five RBIs, two home runs, and a slugging percentage of .600. Vasiloff (2-1) leads the pitching staff in innings pitched (21), WHIP (1.38), ERA (2.33), and batting average against (.282).

The Opponent: Eastern Oregon (4-1) has been solid in the early going, its only loss a 6-0 setback at Central Washington. The Mountaineers have already had three weather cancellations, including the final two games in the Central series.

The Mounties have gotten offensive production from a variety of hitters. Haley Tyree leads the team in hits (6), RBIs (8), home runs (2), slugging percentage (.667) and at bats (18). Addison Ribordy's .385 batting average leads all hitters with 12 or more at bats. Kylie Parsons and Kaylie Hoskins have combined for all but six innings pitched this season, Hoskins has a 1.38 ERA, 26 strikeouts and just seven walks while Parsons is close behind with 2.87, 22 strikeouts, and a 3-0 record.

Eastern Oregon is coached by Nicole Christian who's entering her fifth season as the head coach following a record of 76-36 over the past two seasons. Whitworth is 3-1 against EO all-time, the last series between the two was in 2015.

Vasiloff's hot start: The senior has opened up 2024 on the right note. Coming into the season, Vasiloff was slated to be the ace of the pitching staff and she was up to the task. Vasiloff pitched 21 innings including two complete games, posting an ERA of 2.33 (third in the NWC) and shut out La Verne in a 7-0 win on Sunday.

Dillon's got power: Julia Dillon crushed a pair of home runs on opening weekend, racking up a team-leading five RBIs and a .300 average. The senior posted a .600 slugging percentage and racked up 12 total bases on six hits.

The Coach: Bob Castle took over as Whitworth's head coach in 2019 and is now entering his fifth season guiding the Pirates. Castle was previously an assistant coach on Whitworth's staff from 2015-2018 where they won three NWC titles. Castle earned the first winning season of his head coaching tenure in 2022 leading Whitworth to a 25-17 record.