LA VERNE, Calif. – Whitworth opened its five-game trip to California with its first wins of the season, taking two games from La Verne in a non-conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
Madison Sanchez led the Pirates (2-10) to a 2-0 game one win before the offense came alive in a dominant 9-1 five-inning game two win. The Leopards fell to 9-11 on the season. Whitworth will look to build on the wins in a doubleheader at La Sierra on Monday at noon.
Game 1: Whitworth 2, La Verne 0
Sanchez tossed a complete game shutout to lead the Pirates to their first victory of the season.
Whitworth scored two runs in the first three innings, both with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Raegan Ellis that scored Kendel Sage. The Pirates threatened in the fourth with a pair of runners in scoring position, but a groundout ended the inning.
That would be all the Bucs needed as Sanchez (1-3) allowed just three hits and struck out six in the contest. Sanchez and the defense behind her did not allow a La Verne player to reach scoring position.
Kendel Sage led all players with two hits in the game in addition to her two runs scored. Megan Highfill and Teeghan Reams each tallied a base hit and a walk.
Alyssa Tafolla (1-2) took the loss after allowing two hits and two runs in a three-inning start for the Leopards. Briana Vasquez gave up four hits in four innings of relief.
Game 2: Whitworth 9, La Verne 1 (5 inn.)
The Pirates poured on a season-high nine runs to compliment a complete game in the circle from Lina Schwippert.
The Whitworth bats started hot and pushed across four runs in the top of the first inning. Kendel Sage hit a single and Ellis walked before Reams hit a two-run double up the middle. Lizzy Bradford extended the lead with an RBI groundout and Makena Hofford followed with an RBI triple to put the Bucs up 4-0.
Another Pirate run crossed the plate in each of the next two innings. An Ellis groundout scored Aubrey Bauer, who made her first start of the season, in the second inning and Tessa Hahn hit an RBI triple in the third.
Three runs in the fourth inning pushed the game out of reach. Ellis continued her productive day at the plate with an RBI double. Reams followed with a two-run home run to center field that gave Whitworth a nine-run advantage.
The Leopards scored their first run of series in the bottom of the fifth when a groundout scored a runner from third.
Kendel Sage, Reams and Hahn led the Pirate offense with two hits apiece. Ellis had two RBIs and Reams led with four. Whitworth totaled five extra base hits in the game, including three triples.
Schwippert (1-3) earned the win after allowing one unearned run on three hits with six strikeouts and no walks in five innings.
Jaidynn Alvarez (2-2) started for La Verne and allowed six runs on four hits in 2.1 innings. Angelina Garcia pitched 2.2 innings of relief and allowed three runs.
