ORANGE, Calif. – The Whitworth University softball team opened the 2014 season with a shutout at Chapman in the first game of an evening doubleheader at El Camino Real Park on Thursday. The Pirates dropped the second game, giving both teams a matching 1-1 record to open the season.

Freshmen Kelsey Stroshine and Shannon Wessel each went 2-3 in their collegiate debuts and combined for Whitworth's three runs in the opening game.

Game 1 – Whitworth 3, Chapman 0
In the opening game, the teams kept it scoreless with just two hits until the top of the fifth inning. Shannon Wessel singled to center field, and then advanced to second on a single to left field from Kelsey Stroshine. A Chapman error allowed Wessel to score and put the Pirates up 1-0. In the bottom of the inning, Lindsay Holt tripled with two outs, but Stroshine made a diving grab to keep the shutout going at the end of the inning.

The Pirates extended the lead in the top of the seventh. Wessel followed her single up the middle by stealing second. Stroshine advanced them both with her second single of the game. The second Chapman error of the game scored Wessel and Stroshine scored the final run on a wild pitch. The Panthers stranded a runner in the bottom of the seventh, giving Whitworth its first shutout of the season.

Freshman Madi Perez (1-0) made her collegiate debut in the circle. She allowed three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in five innings. Junior Megan Fisher got the save by pitching the final two innings, striking out two batters and allowing one hit and one walk.

Natalie Both (0-1) took the loss, pitching all seven innings. She gave up five hits with two walks and 14 strikeouts. All of the Pirate runs were unearned.

Game 2 – Chapman 5, Whitworth 0
Chapman reversed the roles in the second game, using three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Lisa Perez led off with a single. After a Pirate error allowed Severina Worthington to take first, Larissa Rinauro singled through the left side, scoring Perez. The Panthers tacked on an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth after Whitworth's second error of the game.

Whitworth got its lone hit of the game when senior Makenzie Hope opened the seventh inning with a single. After Hope was caught stealing, Cassie Oregel struck out the final two batters to seal Chapman's victory.

Oregel (1-0) earned the win in the circle, striking out 12 batters with just one hit in seven innings. Junior Taylor Gilbert (0-1) took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

Whitworth will continue its season-opening trip to California with a doubleheader against La Verne on Friday.