McMinnville, Ore. – The Whitworth softball team recovered from a 15-3 loss in game one to take a 7-6 win against Linfield College on Sunday afternoon in Del Smith Stadium. Whitworth moves to 5-5 on the season and 2-2 in Northwest Conference action, while Linfield wraps up its opening weekend with a 2-2 record both overall and in the NWC.
Game 1 – Linfield 15, Whitworth 3 (5 innings)
Linfield got on the scoreboard first after Karleigh Prestianni scored from second base on a double from Katy Brosig. The Wildcats tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third inning, putting Linfield up 4-0 heading into the fourth inning.
The Pirates were able to make up some ground in the top of the fourth. After being walked, senior Jamie Brunner advanced to second on a passed ball and then took third after a wild pitch. Freshman Bailey Kasler walked and then advanced to second on a single from freshman Megan John. Sophomore Riley Fritz doubled to center, which scored Kasler and freshman Brittany Connor, who was pinch running for Brunner. Megan John was about to score after junior Caylan Haehl grounded out, which put the Bucs back within one, 4-3.
Linfield took control in the bottom of the inning, scoring 11 runs on 10 hits and taking a commanding 15-3 lead. The Pirates were able to get two runners on base in the top of the fifth inning, but neither was able to score before the third out.
Sophomore Megan Fisher (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits after facing 17 batters in three innings. Karina Paavola (1-0) earned the win, facing 24 batters in five innings with three runs on six hits.
Riley Fritz and Caylan Haehl both went 1-for-2 at the plate, as each finished the game with an RBI.
Game 2 – Whitworth 7, Linfield 6
Whitworth came out swinging in the second game, as Natalie Evers singled to center field as the second batter. Evers was able to score on a single from Bailey Kasler, and the freshman was able to advance to second on the throw. The Bucs headed to the bottom of the inning with a 1-0 lead. Linfield tied it up in the bottom of the first when Grace Middelstadt scored an unearned run.
Whitworth came back out swinging in the second. Riley Fritz started things off with a single, which junior Julia Johnson followed with a single of her own. Caylan Haehl was able to advance the runners to second base and third base, and both runners scored on junior Hanna Boyd's single to center field. Riley Fritz retired three batters in order to close the second inning with the Pirates up 3-1.
Whitworth did more damage in the third inning, as the Pirates added two runs to push their lead up to four, 5-1. Jamie Brunner scored an unearned run on Kasler's double to center field. Sophomore Peyton McMahon, pinch running for Kasler, scored on a single from Fritz to earn the Pirates fifth run of the game. The Wildcats got two hits in the bottom of the inning, but left two runners on base, unable to score.
After reaching on an error, Jamie Brunner stole second base and then scored on a single from sophomore Sacha Clow in the fifth inning. Clow advanced to second after an error by Linfield's third baseman, and then scored on a single from Julia Johnson. The Pirates held Linfield scoreless in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-1 lead into the sixth inning.
Linfield scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Wildcats pulled within one run of the Pirates. Whitworth gave up five hits that led to the Wildcats' five runs, but the Pirates were able to get the final out of the inning, stranding the tying run on first base. Neither team was able to score in the seventh inning, as the Pirates held out for the 7-6 victory.
Riley Fritz (4-1) earned the win, facing 37 batters in seven innings. She gave up six runs on eleven hits. Shelby VandeBergh (0-1) takes the loss, facing 13 batters and giving up five runs on six hits in two innings pitched.
At the plate, Bailey Kasler went 2-for-3, with two RBI. Riley Fritz and Julia Johnson went 2-for-4 at the plate, as each finished the game with an RBI.
Whitworth returns to action next weekend, hosting the defending NCAA champions, Pacific Lutheran, in a pair of doubleheaders on March 2nd and 3rd. Game one will start at noon on both days.
