PORTLAND, Ore. – The Whitworth University softball team used an offensive explosion to snap a six game skid and give the Pirates a pair of Northwest Conference wins at Huston Sports Complex on Saturday.

Whitworth improves to 24-14 on the season, with a 16-10 record in the NWC. Lewis & Clark falls to 11-22 overall, 7-17 in the NWC.

Senior Julia Johnson hit a home run in each game for a total of eight on the season, which breaks the Whitworth softball record for home runs in a season. Johnson's career total of 23 home runs is also a Whitworth softball record.

Game 1 – Whitworth 10, Lewis & Clark 2
A pair of Pioneer errors and a single from sophomore Alyssa Hall put the Pirates on the scoreboard three batters into the game. Hall scored on a groundout from freshman Shannon Wessel. With runners on second and third, junior Peyton McMahon hit her fourth home run of the season to make it a five run first inning.

The Pirates added a pair of runs in the second on an RBI single from senior Caylan Haehl and a Lewis & Clark error. Whitworth extended its lead to 9-0 in the top of the third as senior Julia Johnson connected with her seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center.

The Pioneers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth as the first two batters were hit by pitches and the next two batters hit back-to-back singles. Lewis & Clark plated a pair of runs before Whitworth could get the third out.

Freshman Tessa Matthews' RBI single in the top of the sixth gave Whitworth a 10-2 lead. A pair of groundouts and a strikeout ended the game in Whitworth's favor.

Alyssa Hall, Cayla Haehl, Peyton McMahon and Tessa Matthews each had a pair of hits as Whitworth used 12 hits to score 10 runs.

Freshman Madi Perez (12-5) earned the win in the circle, allowing just three hits and two runs with a walk and three strikeouts in six innings of work. Kalin Rooney (2-3) took the loss, giving up one earned run on seven hits with two walks in 1.1 inning. Six of Whitworth's runs were unearned as the Pioneers had five errors in the game.

Game 2 – Whitworth 10, Lewis & Clark 5
A Lewis & Clark error and a hit batter put runners on first and second for senior Taylor Gilbert, whose RBI single in the top of the first put Whitworth on the scoreboard just three batters in to the game for the second straight game. With the bases loaded, Shannon Wessel hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate another run for the Pirates. Whitworth added a third run in the first on a sac fly from Peyton McMahon and led 3-0 after an inning.

Julia Johnson's single in the top of the second scored sophomore Brittany Connor, giving Whitworth a 4-0 lead. The Pirates added a run in the top of the fourth and the top of the fifth to take a 6-0 lead over the Pioneers. Lewis & Clark made a late push, plating a run in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, the Pioneers drew a walk, starting a four-run push that would pull Lewis & Clark within a run, 6-5, by the end of the inning.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Whitworth went to work. Connor was walked, and scored after back-to-back singles from Alyssa Hall and Gilbert, bringing Julia Johnson to the plate. Johnson broke the game open with a three-run homer to left field, giving Whitworth a 10-5 lead. The Pioneers stranded two runners in the bottom of the inning as the Pirates won 10-5.

Alyssa Hall, Taylor Gilbert, Julia Johnson, Shannon Wessel and sophomore Lyss Martinez each had two hits as the Pirates turned in their second 12-hit game of the day. Johnson had a game-high five RBI, while Gilbert batted in two runs.

Freshman Makayla Lefever (4-4) earned the win, allowing just one run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 4.2 innings in the circle. Madison Hollenbeck (7-12) took the loss, allowing eight earned runs on 12 hits with five walks and two strikeouts.

Whitworth will conclude the series at Lewis & Clark with a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Huston Sports Complex in Portland.