PORTLAND, Ore. – The Whitworth University softball team concluded the regular season with a sweep of Lewis & Clark in a pair of Northwest Conference wins at the Huston Sports Complex on Sunday.

Whitworth improves to 26-14 on the season, with an 18-10 record in the NWC. Lewis & Clark falls to 11-24 overall, 7-19 in the NWC.

Game 1 – Whitworth 6, Lewis & Clark 0
Senior Julia Johnson hit her ninth home run of the season in the top of the first, a two-run shot to center field that put Whitworth up 2-0 early. Both teams stranded base runners over the next three innings, and the score remained 2-0 heading into the fourth inning.

Freshman Kayla Batastini followed junior Peyton McMahon's single to center field with a two-run home run over the back wall, putting the Pirates up 4-0 with just one out in the inning. Freshman Tessa Matthews and junior Sacha Clow hit back-to-back singles, putting runners on second and third for senior Taylor Gilbert. Gilbert's single to left field batted in two runs, making it a 6-0 Whitworth lead.

Lewis & Clark stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the fourth and the bottom of the seventh, but Whitworth's defense kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard and secured the shutout.

Taylor Gilbert went 3-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Tessa Matthews was 2-3 for Whitworth, and Julia Johnson was 1-2 with two runs batted in.

Freshman Madi Perez earned her 13^th win in the circle, giving up just five hits with two walks and a strikeout in seven innings. Madison Hollenbeck (7-13) took the loss, giving up six earned runs on 10 hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

Game 2 – Whitworth 10, Lewis & Clark 9
The Pioneers reversed the script in the final game of the series, taking advantage of a Pirate error and a two-run homer from Jenai Rojo to lead 3-0 after the first inning. Whitworth's first two batters were walked in the top of the second and freshman Kelsey Stroshine singled up the middle, loading the bases for the Pirates. Freshman Shannon Wessel drew a walk, putting Whitworth on the board. With bases loaded again and two outs, Sacha Clow drew the fourth walk of the inning. Sophomore Megan John put the Pirates ahead with a single up the middle that allowed Clow, Stroshine and Wessel to score. Whitworth led 6-3 heading into the bottom of the second.

Lewis & Clark added a run in the bottom of the inning and both teams plated a run in the third, making it a 7-5 game going into the fourth. The Pioneers scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-7 lead and added another run in the bottom of the fifth to lead 9-7.

Whitworth followed a scoreless sixth inning with a seventh inning comeback. Julia Johnson led off with a walk, and Peyton McMahon followed with a single. Sophomore Bailey Kasler doubled to left center, sending the tying run home with no outs in the inning. Kayla Batastini gave Whitworth the lead with an RBI single up the middle. The Pioneers managed a pair of hits in the bottom of the inning, but Whitworth secured the final out before Lewis & Clark could tie the game.

Kayla Batastini had a multi-hit game, going 2-4 at the plate, with two RBI. Peyton McMahon was 1-2 at the plate with three runs scored.

Madi Perez (14-5) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits with a strikeout in three innings of work. Kalin Rooney (2-4) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings in the circle.

Next up, Whitworth will play at the Northwest Conference tournament. Top-seeded Linfield will host the double elimination tournament on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19.