by Andrew Goodwin, Sports Information Assistant 

ORANGE, Calif. – Natalie Edlin drove in three runs on three hits and Madelyn Carlson tossed a complete game to earn a split for the Whitworth Pirates in their season-opening doubleheader against the Chapman Panthers. 

Both teams start their seasons 1-1 after Chapman's comeback victory earned them a victory in the first game and Whitworth's offense in the middle innings secured a win in the nightcap. 

Game 1: Chapman 8, Whitworth 5

Whitworth's season opener didn't go its way as a six-run sixth inning earned Chapman an 8-5 comeback victory.   

The Bucs opened up an early lead with three runs from their first three batters. Kinsey McNaught singled up the middle and stole second, giving Logan Miller a chance to snag an RBI. She did, singling to center field and advancing to second on the throw. Chelsey Hayes drove in Miller with a triple and then scored when Edlin was caught stealing second.

Whitworth extended its lead to 4-0 on a sacrifice fly from McNaught in the second inning, but Chapman got two back on a single from Jordyn Krohn in the third. The Pirates last run came on a single to left field from Kelsey Downey, which gave them a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. 

Down three, the Chapman offense came to life. The Panthers scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take an 8-5 lead. A pair of bases loaded singles and a double into the left-center field gap did the damage and gave the Panthers the lead heading into the seventh inning.

Michaela Foisy went 3-4 and scored two runs for Chapman. Samantha Tong and Krohn each drove in a pair of runs.

Edlinfinished 2-3 with a triple and a run for the Bucs. Miller went 2-4 with a run and an RBI.

Ashley Trueblood started the game for the Pirates and went five innings. She gave up seven hits, four runs (two earned), walked two batters, and struck out one. Megan Truesdale was hit with the loss after giving up one run in 1/3 of an inning.  

Game 2: Whitworth 9, Chapman 1 

Whitworth scored seven runs in the third and fourth innings, and Madelyn Carlson tossed six strong innings to give the Pirates their first win of the season. 

McNaught started the Bucs' third inning rally. The sophomore walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kaylie Lowery drove McNaught in with a bunt single to tie the game at 1-1. After Hayes walked, Edlin singled Lowery home and gave Whitworth a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Brynn Radke drove in the Pirates third run of the inning on a groundout and the Bucs led 3-1.

Whitworth kept its foot on the gas pedal in the fourth inning. This time, Hayes started the scoring with a two-run single to left field. Then, Edlin drove in two more with a single to center and the Bucs had a 7-1 advantage.

Hayes and Radke each drove in one more run in the sixth inning, and the Bucs secured a 9-1 victory.

Carlson sparkled in her Pirate debut. The freshman tossed seven innings and gave up 1 run on 3 hits with 9 strikeouts.

Next up, Whitworth travels to La Verne to take on the Leopards. The first game of the doubleheader will be at 12pm and the second is scheduled to begin at 2:00pm.