By: Caden Frank
SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth softball hosts Lewis & Clark this weekend in a four-game Northwest Conference series at Diana Marks field.
Check the scheduling page for links to live scores, statistics, and streaming options.
The Pirates: Whitworth (6-14, 2-6 NWC) was last seen on March 23-24 in Salem where they split a four-game series with Willamette (6-12, 2-6 NWC). Going into that series, the Pirates had won 20 straight against the Bearcats but the split leaves them tied for last place in the conference.
Whitworth opened the series with a 4-3 win fueled by Jessica Rusconi's 3-3 day including a sixth-inning double to score Jazz Johnson and put the Pirates up two runs. Four Pirates tallied RBIs in the game, and Corinne Vasiloff (3-7) got the win striking out six batters and allowing just two runs across seven innings. In game two, the Bearcats snapped that 21-game skid against Whitworth erasing a three-run deficit in the final two innings. Harley Raymond capped a three-run seventh inning with a walk-off single to left center to score Kendra Knapp for the 4-3 win. On Sunday, the Pirates dropped game three 2-1 mustering just four hits in the game. Vasiloff struck out nine, but it wasn't enough as Emma Elliott's lead off triple sparked a two-run fourth inning. Mia Rogers tagged a two-out single to center to drive in a run that ultimately became the game-winner. In the series finale, the Pirates managed a 5-3 win to earn the split. Kelly Hruza sponsored the victory with three RBIs on 2-3 at the plate. Hruza's first two RBIs came in the second inning when she singled to left to score Rusconi and Nine, she delivered another clutch at bat in the sixth and singled to score Rusconi and put Whitworth up 4-3. Rusconi also homered in that game, her first of the season.
Series Top Performers: Jessica Rusconi set the tone for the offense, batting 6-8 on the weekend with a home run, a pair of RBIs, and she came around to score four runs herself. Jazz Johnson hit 4-10 with a pair of RBIs as well. On the mound, Vasiloff went 1-1 but was excellent pitching 13 innings and striking out 15 batters while allowing just four earned runs.
The Pirates are currently tied with Willamette and Pacific Lutheran for last place in the conference, however all three teams are just two games out of the conference tournament, trailing fourth-place Pacific (7-13, 4-4 NWC) by two games. Whitworth is struggling offensively, ranking last in the NWC in batting average (.220), slugging percentage (.285), extra base hits (25), and on-base percentage (.283). The Pirates are middle of the pack in their pitching numbers, a staff ERA of 4.79 is fifth in the league despite allowing the second-most hits (187), they've allowed the second-fewest home runs (5), but the second-most doubles (34).
The Opponent: Lewis & Clark (13-7, 7-1 NWC) is looking to build on its best start to conference play in recent memory. The Pioneers swept Willamette in Portland on March 9-10 and took three from Pacific in Forest Grove two weekends ago. L&C is trailing Linfield (20-0, 8-0 NWC) by a game in conference play, and they'll try to keep pace this weekend in Spokane. Freshman Harper Campanella has been a force offensively this season, she leads the Pioneers in batting average (.414), hits (24), doubles (6), home runs (5), RBIs (17), and slugging percentage (.776), and she's top ten in the conference in all those categories. On the mound it's Maggie O'Leary (6-3) who holds it down for L&C, O'Leary has pitched 52 innings, allowing 10 earned runs for an ERA of 1.35 and struck out 52 batters. She trails only Linfield ace Tayah Kelly in ERA, opposing batting average, strikeouts, and total runs allowed. The Pioneers are coached by Shawna Cyrus who's in her 15th season with the program, her career record is 155-333 and she led L&C to its first-ever conference tournament appearance in 2021.
Offensive woes: Whitworth is desperate to find some explosiveness on offense. The Pirates have managed just 61 runs through 20 games which ranks last in the NWC, of their 115 hits just 25 have gone for extra bases. Whitworth has put the ball in play relatively well, the 92 team strikeouts is fourth best in the league, but they just haven't managed to push many runs across.
Rusconi finding rhythm: Jessica Rusconi had an excellent showing in Salem two weeks ago, hitting 6-8 on the weekend including her first home run of the season. Rusconi is batting .295 to lead all eligible Whitworth hitters, and she leads the lineup with six extra base hits. Look for Rusconi to be a spark plug for this offense going forward.
Another test: The early strength of schedule may certainly play a role in some of the Pirates' early struggles. They've battled against NAIA Eastern Oregon and Div. II Central, a four-game conference opener against undefeated and perennial national-contender Linfield, and now they host Lewis & Clark who's looked sharp to start conference play. A couple of wins this weekend over the Pioneers would go a long way for Whitworth in climbing back into the NWC tournament field.
The Coach: Bob Castle took over as Whitworth's head coach in 2019 and is now in his fifth season as Whitworth's head coach. Castle was previously an assistant on Whitworth's staff from 2015-2018 where they won three NWC titles. Castle earned his first winning season in 2022 leading Whitworth to a 25-17 record.
