TACOMA, Wash. – The Whitworth softball team fought their way to a split at Puget Sound in a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday. The Bucs took game one 2-0 before the Loggers came back to win game two 3-2.
The Pirates (4-22 overall, 4-12 NWC) were one out away from a series sweep while the Loggers (8-18 overall) grabbed their second conference win of the season (2-14 NWC). Whitworth will look to continue the positive momentum into a series against George Fox next weekend at Marks field (April 18th-19th).
Game 1: Whitworth 2, Puget Sound 0
Taylor Hofheins' two-run home run in the seventh inning broke a 0-0 tie and backed a dominant performance in the circle from Reiss McIntyre.
The teams combined for just five hits through six innings as both pitchers effectively limited base runners.
The Pirate bats woke up in the seventh. Katie McKinnis started the inning with a single and Reagan Ellis hit into a fielder's choice. Teeghan Reams followed with a double to left center that sent Ellis around the bases, but the Logger relay beat her to the plate. With Reams on second, Hofheins stepped into the box and sent the next pitch over the left field wall to give the Bucs a two-run lead.
McIntyre (1-5) pitched a quick bottom of the seventh to secure her first win of the season. After three UPS hits over the first three innings, McIntyre did not allow a hit over the final four frames and struck out four batters in a full seven innings of work.
For the third time this season, no Whitworth hitter struck out.
Alison Madia (2-7) allowed five hits and two earned runs in seven innings for the Loggers.
Game 2: Puget Sound 3, Whitworth 2
Whitworth took a one-run lead in the fifth but could not hold on as the Loggers grabbed the win with a walk-off two-run single.
Puget Sound got on the board in the first with three consecutive singles. Claire Besancon's hit to left field scored a runner from third before a fly out ended further damage.
After three scoreless innings, the Pirates got the bats going. McKinnis and Ellis each singled before Reams used a well-placed bunt to move the runners and reach first. After a fly out, Camryn Sage drove the ball up the middle for a two-strike, two-run go-ahead single.
The Pirates took their 2-1 lead into the seventh. UPS walked to start the inning, but a missed bunt attempt led the runner too far off the base and Hruza nailed the runner for the first out. Momi Lyman struck out the next batter for the second out, but the Loggers weren't done. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases before Alyssa Figueroa hit a line drive to left field that scored two runners and gave UPS a win in the final game of the series.
Ellis led the Pirates at the plate with three hits (3-4) and Addi Bale added two-hit game (2-3).
Lyman (2-13) allowed three runs on 11 hits with a pair of strikeouts in a complete 6.2 innings.
Nyomi Estrada (2-10) got the win and allowed two runs with eight strikeouts in seven innings.
