SALEM, Ore. – Whitworth and Willamette split a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader at the WU Softball Field on Monday.  The host Bearcats won the opener 4-3 in nine innings before the Pirates won the nightcap 1-0.

Whitworth is now 18-7 overall and 10-4 in the NWC.  Willamette is 11-6, 7-5.  The teams are making up a series that was rained out earlier this month.

Makayla Lefever suffered her first loss of the season in relief in the first game, but came back to throw a one-hitter in the second game to improve to 11-1 this season.

The teams will conclude their series with another doubleheader on Tuesday.

Game 1 – Willamette 4, Whitworth 3
Kathryn Moore scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning after pinch-hitter Elaine Norcia was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Pirates rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to force extra innings, but could not complete the comeback for a victory.

The Bearcats grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning off of Whitworth starting pitcher Madi Perez.  Victoria Bradshaw drove in the first run and Katie Hammitt added a two-run single off of Perez.

But then Perez settled down and did not allow a run over the next 6.2 innings.  She finished with a no-decision after allowing three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

Chelsey Hayes doubled home Alyssa Hall in the top of the third inning to get Whitworth on the board against Willamette starter Jade Smith.  Then in the fifth inning the Pirates were able to tie the game after a ball off of the bat of Shannon Wessel was dropped in right field, allowing Hayes and Myranda Ramirez to score.

Perez prevented Willamette from winning the game in the bottom of the seventh when she retired Bradshaw with two outs and the bases loaded.  The Bearcats got two runners on base again in the eighth.  But Lefever got Ashley Pender to pop up to short stop with two outs.

After Willamette opened the ninth inning with a single, three consecutive Bearcats were hit by a pitch to drive in the winning run.  Earlier in the game Willamette batters were called back to the batters' box by the umpire three times for leaning over the plate to get hit by a pitch. 

Reanna Lancaster (4-1) earned the pitching victory with four strong innings of relief.  She gave up three hits and did not allow a run.  Smith went the first five innings for Willamette and allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings.

Lefever was credited with the loss after giving up one run on one hit in one inning of relief.  It was her first loss of the season after a 10-0 start.

Game 2 – Whitworth 1, Willamette 0
Lefever responded to her first loss of the season by dominating the Bearcats with a one-hit shutout.  She needed only 74 pitches in her ninth complete game of the year to improve to 11-1.  She struck out two and walked one.

The Pirates scored the game's only run in the sixth inning.  Alyssa Hall led off the inning with an infield single, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice.  She scored on a Hayes ground out to second base.

Lefever allowed only a double to Pender with one out in the bottom of the sixth.  But she struck out the next two batters.

Smith started the second game for Willamette and was the hard-luck loser.  She fell to 5-5 after allowing only one run on four hits in her complete-game effort.