TACOMA, Wash. – Megan John drove in five runs, including a grand slam in the opening game, to back two more outstanding pitching performances as Whitworth swept a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader at Puget Sound on Sunday.

The Pirates won the opener 9-0 in six innings and the nightcap 6-1 to take all four games in the series and improve to 22-6 overall and 13-3 in the NWC.  Whitworth remains at tied for first place in the standings with George Fox (23-5, 13-3) after the Bruins swept Linfield on Sunday.

The Pirates will travel to George Fox for a four-game series next weekend.

Game 1 – Whitworth 9, Puget Sound 0 (6 innings)
Madi Perez threw a four-hit shutout and John went 3-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Pirates to an easy win in the opener.

Perez improved to 11-3 after she scattered four singles and didn't allow a walk.  She struck out a pair of batters.

Whitworth scored four runs in the top of the first inning.  Chelsey Hayes led off with a walk and John followed with a single.  One out later Hayes came home on Peyton McMahon's ground ball to first base.  Tessa Matthews then singled home John with the second run.  Later in the inning Kayla Batastini added an RBI single to increase the lead to 4-0.

Puget Sound pitcher Jessica Gott kept the Pirates off the scoreboard for the next four innings.  But Whitworth broke through in the top of the sixth with five more runs.  Sacha Clow walked to load the bases with two outs.  Hayes then reached on an error at second base, which scored the first run of the inning.  John followed with her grand slam.  It was John's second home run of the season.

Perez allowed two infield singles with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, then got the final out to secure the win by eight-run rule.

Game 2 – Whitworth 6, Puget Sound 1
Makayla Lefever improved to 11-2 with another complete-game effort in the circle and the Pirates scored two runs each in the first, third and sixth innings.

The Pirates jumped ahead in the first inning on McMahon's RBI double and a sacrifice fly from Kelsey Stroshine.

Puget Sound scored its only run of the day in the second inning when McMahon chased down a fall in foul territory in left field, allowing Jessica Shaw to score from third base.

Batastini picked up two more RBIs with a two-run single in the third inning.

The Pirates scored their final two runs in the sixth.  John picked up her fifth RBI of the day when her ground out to third base drove in Clow.  Shannon Wessel added an RBI single for the final run.

Lefever allowed one run on only four hits in seven full innings.  She struck out two and didn't walk a batter while improving to 11-2 this season and lowering her ERA to 1.09.

Whitworth has now won 20 consecutive games against Puget Sound.