By: Cody Wright
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth University softball team hits the road again this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders at Puget Sound. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at noon and Sunday's games will begin at 11:00.
Check the Whitworth softball schedule page for live links to this weekend's action.
The Pirates: Whitworth (1-21 overall, 1-11 NWC) was swept in a four-game series at Lewis & Clark last weekend.
The Pirates were held to just two hits and fell 15-0 in a five-inning game one loss. The Pioneers scored 10 runs in the first inning to break the game open, aided by a grand slam. Reagan Ellis and Taylor Hofheins recorded the pair of Whitworth hits. L&C took game two 13-0 in five innings. The Pioneers played small ball in the second inning and pushed four runs across the plate using five bunts and a two-run double. Charlize Pope pitched all five innings for the Pioneers and gave up three Pirate hits.
On Sunday, the Pirates fell twice more but fared much better at the plate and in the circle. Game one went the Pioneer's way 5-3 as Maggie O'Leary held off a Whitworth comeback with 12 strikeouts in the circle. With a five-run deficit in the fifth inning, rain began to fall and the Bucs took advantage of it. O'Leary lost command and hit two batters followed by an infield single to load the bases. Kendel Sage hit an infield single to score a run and Katie McKinnis was hit by a pitch to plate another. Whitworth scored another run in the seventh on a McKinnis ground out but could not close the gap. Teeghan Reams pitched a strong first three frames before allowing five runs in 4.2 innings. The Pirates followed with a 5-2 loss in game two. L&C scored four runs in the first on just one hit to take an early lead. Kendel Sage knocked in a pair of runs with a double in the fifth to cut the deficit in half. The Bucs loaded the bases again in the sixth but could not score a run. Sage went 4-8 on the day with three RBIs. Reiss McIntyre allowed four hits in 5.1 strong relief innings.
The Opponents: Puget Sound hosts Whitworth with a 7-15 overall record and 1-11 mark in conference play. The Loggers are coming off back-to-back conference sweeps, the latest being four losses at Linfield last weekend. UPS is ranked sixth in the conference in batting (.277), pitching (6.38 ERA), and fielding (.949). While team ERA is ranked sixth, UPS pitchers have allowed the most home runs (18) and walks (81) in the conference. Sophomore Alyssa Figueroa leads the team with a .413 batting average and two home runs. Graduate student Aislind Dail is second on the team with a .388 batting average and has scored a team-high 17 runs. Sophomores Nyomi Estrada and Alison Madia have each started eight games for the Loggers in the circle. Whitworth won three of four games against UPS last season in Spokane.
NWC Standings: Lewis & Clark (12-0) and Linfield (10-0) sit atop the conference standings with unblemished records. George Fox holds third at 8-4 with Pacific (5-7) three games behind. Willamette is in fifth with a 4-6 record and Pacific Lutheran is close behind at 3-5. Puget Sound and Whitworth trail with 1-11 conference records.
Senior Leaders: A much-improved 2025 season will fall on the shoulders of the Whitworth senior class. Taylor Hofheins has started all 18 games for the Pirates and is second on the team in hits (13). Reagan Ellis and Kennedy Robison combine for a dynamic middle infield while Katie McKinnis holds down third base and has a team-leading five runs scored. Kelly Hruza's .776 OPS (on base plus slugging) is highest on the team. In the circle, Momi Lyman has started a team-high 12 games and is tied with Reiss McIntyre with 27 strikeouts.
Immediate Impact: The Pirates have 10 new faces on the 2025 roster, and many could have a big role this season. Junior transfer Teeghan Reams has made 10 appearances in the circle and has started 18 games in the designated player position. Freshman Kendel Sage has started all 18 games for the Pirates and leads the team with 14 hits. First-years Camryn Sage and Addi Bale each have at least 13 starts on the year. These Pirate newcomers will continue to show their ability to impact games and make winning plays throughout the season.
The Coach: Bob Castle is now in his sixth season as Whitworth's head coach after taking over the program in 2019. He served as an assistant on staff from 2015-2018 and was a part of three Northwest Conference titles. Castle earned his first winning season as head coach in 2022 with a 25-17 record and has guided the Pirates to three NWC tournament appearances.
Looking Ahead: The Pirates will host a series against George Fox on April 18th and 19th at Diana Marks Field.
