SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth Pirates secured their first win of the season in a doubleheader split against visiting Willamette in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Diana Marks Field. The Pirates fell in game one 2-0 before a comeback 4-3 win in game two.
Both teams moved to 1-5 in the NWC. The Pirates now are 1-7 overall while the Bearcats sit at 4-6.
The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 11:00 am.
Game 1 – Willamette 2, Whitworth 0
Kenna Davis' complete game shutout led Willamette to a game one win.
After three scoreless innings, the Pirates threatened in the fourth. Kennedy Robison and Addie Johnson hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with one out. Johnson stole second before a strikeout and ground out kept the Bucs off the scoreboard.
The Bearcats broke the 0-0 tie in the sixth with four consecutive hits. Desirae Hatfield hit a bases loaded single to score the first run of the game. After a line out, a ground ball was hit back to the pitcher, but Whitworth could not turn the double play and another run crossed the plate.
The Pirates were unable spark a comeback despite two runners reaching base in the final half inning.
Robison (2-3) recorded two of the seven Whitworth hits.
Momi Lyman (0-4) pitched her third complete game of the season for the Bucs and gave up two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts.
Davis (2-2) got the win with six strikeouts and three walks in a full seven innings for Willamette.
Game 2 – Whitworth 4, Willamette 3
Addie Johnson led the Pirates to their first win of the season with a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Bearcats struck in the top of the first after a throwing error and single resulted in an early 2-0 lead.
Whitworth responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Reagan Ellis was hit by a pitch and advanced to third after two ground outs. Taylor Hofheins came through with an RBI single to score the Pirates' first run of the series.
Each team added a run in the fourth. After a leadoff double, Mia Lund hit a two-out single up the middle to give Willamette a 3-1 lead. In the bottom half, Kelly Hruza singled before Johnson tripled down the right field line and scored pinch runner Jaedyn Dron.
In the bottom of the sixth, three walks loaded the bases for the Whitworth. Johnson came to the plate and hit a hard ground ball through the left side that scored Ellis and Hruza and gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead.
Johnson was 2-3 with three RBIs in game two and 3-5 on the day.
Lyman (1-4) earned the win after pitching two scoreless innings of relief to close the game and complete the Whitworth comeback. Reiss McIntyre got the start in the circle and allowed three earned runs in five innings with a season-high four strikeouts.
Elizabeth Hillier started for the Bearcats and gave up two earned runs in four innings. Abigail Loomis (1-2) allowed two earned runs in 1.1 innings of relief and was credited with the loss. Davis recorded the final two outs for Willamette.
