SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth softball will have its hands full this week as they take on Central Washington in a Thursday doubleheader before coming home for the conference opener against five-time defending NWC champion Linfield.

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The Pirates: Whitworth (4-6) has not played a game since February 25. The Pirates had a weekend off on March 2-3 before their conference opener set for March 9-10 was postponed to this weekend.

The Pirates' last action was on the road against Eastern Oregon where they lost three of four in the weekend's series. The Mounties (13-3, 5-1 CCC) took the first three games in the series winning 6-1, 3-1, and 12-4. Whitworth's kryptonite was a pair of bad fourth innings, the Mounties pushed across two in the fourth inning of game two to take a 3-1 lead before breaking game three open with six runs in the fourth to put a one-run game out of reach for Whitworth. But the Pirates avoided the sweep with a strong showing in the series finale. Momi Lyman (2-3) pitched a complete game and allowed one run on six hits for her second win of the season. Whitworth took control of the fourth inning this time, scoring five runs in that frame to swell its 2-0 lead to 7-0. Hannah Montoya was the catalyst, tagging a double down the line to empty the bases and score Reagan Ellis, Amy Pederson, and Kelly Hruza. Makenna Hofford built on the momentum with a single to score Montoya, separating Whitworth for good.

Series' Top Performers: Montoya was the sparkplug for the Pirates, the middle infielder recorded at least one hit in each of the four games (5-14 on the series), she scored five times and drove in 3 RBIs. Jazz Johnson complimented Montoya with a 4-12 performance at the plate but knocked in four RBIs in the middle of the order. On the mound, Momi Lyman pitched 13 innings and gave up just four runs on 13 hits while striking out four, Lyman went 1-1.

Whitworth is batting just .234 to this point with a .307 slugging percentage and a .309 on-base percentage (all rank last in the NWC). The Pirates have made up for it in the field, they're second in fielding percentage only behind Linfield with a respectable 4.18 ERA.

The Opponent: Central Washington (3-16, 1-3 GNAC) has been through a brutal non-conference schedule including three series against nationally ranked NAIA opponents. So far, the Wildcats have played series against No. 7 OLLU and No. 24 Northwest Nazarene, along with a doubleheader against No. 24 Eastern Oregon. CWU is 2-7 in those games.

Central is batting .237 to this point, a slugging percentage of .268 and a .307 on base percentage. Offensively, they've lacked explosiveness. Through 19 games they have 124 hits and 123 strikeouts, only 14 extra-base hits (12 of them doubles) and they've yet to hit a home run. Ashlee Laver leads CWU on the mound, she's pitched 54 innings and has a 3.17 ERA and a 1-8 record. Alyssa Benthagen is the 'Cats top threat hitting, she leads the team with a .281 average and 18 hits.

Linfield (4-0) has faced two weather cancellations so far this season, but the Wildcats have looked strong in the small number of outings so far. They are unbeaten to this point, with three of the four wins ending in eight-run mercy rules, two of those against No. 12 Belhaven and No. 9 Virginia Wesleyan.

The Wildcats are batting .384, with a slugging percentage of .636, and an on base percentage of .445 (all of which lead the NWC). The 'Cats have a .975 fielding percentage, and a 1.59 ERA allowing just five runs (three on home runs) which also lead the conference. Linfield has a true weapon on the mound. Tayah Kelley, the two-time defending NWC pitcher of the year, has posted an ERA below 1.80 in each of the last two seasons. In three outings this season, she's 3-0 with an ERA of 0.58, she's racked up 16 strikeouts, and allowed one earned run on four hits allowing a .098 batting average. Offensively, the Wildcats have a few underclassmen setting the tone. Freshman Meara Sain is batting .750 through her first 12 at bats posting 9 hits, 9 RBIs and a pair of home runs to begin her collegiate career. Sophomore Ashlyn Aven is batting .417 with five hits, a home run and three RBIs. Linfield will be dangerous on both sides.

The 'Cats are coached by Jackson Vaughan who's made the program a perennial national contender since taking over 22 years ago. Linfield has won 14 of the last 17 conference championships, they are 122-24 (74-10 in the NWC) over the last three seasons. Whitworth has not beaten Linfield since 2021, they will be seeking to snap a 13-game losing streak this weekend. Linfield knocked off Whitworth in the NWC-tournament in each of the past two seasons.

Montoya Making Leaderboards: Montoya is on the short list in several conference statistics in the early part of the 2024 season. The senior second baseman is second in the NWC in runs scored (11), fifth in hits (10), and fifth in stolen bases (6). Her .278 average is second on the team.

Dillon hits for power: Julia Dillon blasted a pair of home runs in Whitworth's six-game season-opening series in California, and that total still has her in an eight-way tie for third the NWC. She's batting .265, leading the team with seven RBIs, and her .475 slugging percentage leads Whitworth.

All that Jazz: Jazz Johnson has been doing a bit of everything so far. The senior leads the Pirates in batting average (.313), hits (10), she's second in RBIs (5), fourth in slugging percentage (.344) and on-base percentage (.361), and she's played and started in all 10 games.

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.