by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

TACOMA, Wash. – Sara Gayer hit two home runs on Sunday as the visiting Whitworth softball team split wins with Puget Sound after a late comeback by the Loggers in game two.    

Whitworth (5-11, 3-1 NWC) won the first game 12-7, scoring four runs in the first and fourth innings. Puget Sound (1-7, 1-3) won the second game 10-8 after using a seven-run bottom of the sixth inning to rally back from a five-run deficit.

Game 1 – Whitworth 12, Puget Sound 7

Just like in yesterday's opener, the Pirates got out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Maddy Thomas hit a two-run homer to force a Logger pitching change. Four Pirates were walked in the inning.     

Four Loggers were walked in the bottom of the second to bring UPS within 4-3. The Loggers scored on a pair of bases-loaded walks followed by an RBI-single from Hailee Ueyama.   

UPS tied it up in the third, but Whitworth answered with four runs in the fourth to bring the Pirates' lead to 8-4. Jazz Johnson drove in Julia Dillon with a double and Sara Gayer brought in two more runs with a single. Heather Menzer hit an RBI-single to bring in the final run of the inning.

The Pirates led 12-6 after scoring two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. Mattea Nelson singled in two runs in the top of the sixth and Haley Montoya drove in the next two with a single in the seventh.

Abbi Wong hit a home run in the seventh, but the next two batters lined out to conclude Sunday's opener. Wong finished 2-4 at the plate with two RBIs to lead the Loggers. UPS used three pitchers in the game.

Drea Schwaier-Wolf (3-4) earned the win in the circle, allowing six runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work. Melanie Laronde allowed one hit in 1.2 innings of relief. Four Pirates finished with two RBIs and the team totaled seven stolen bases, three from Dillon.

Game 2 – Puget Sound 10, Whitworth 8

Whitworth had an 8-3 lead after the top of the sixth, but the Loggers rallied back with a seven-run bottom of the sixth to take the 10-8 win and avoid the series sweep.

The Pirates and Loggers were tied 3-3 after the first inning. Gayer hit a two-run homer for the Pirates and Maddy Newman did the same for the Loggers.

The Pirates regained the lead in the top of the second after an RBI-single from Montoya. Gayer hit her second home run of the game and third of the weekend to bring the score to 5-3 in the top of the third.

Whitworth added three runs in the fifth to extend its lead to 8-3. Montoya and Rylee Gentner had RBI-singles in the frame.

The sixth-inning comeback started with the Loggers drawing three walks to load the bases. A pair of singles and a fielding error brought in the first three runs and Savanna Smith hit a grand slam to close the rally and secure the 10-8 victory.

The Pirates had eight stolen bases on the game. Gayer hit 3-3 with three RBIs and two home runs. Montoya also had three RBIs and went 3-4.

Corinne Vasiloff got the start in the circle for the Pirates but was taken out after giving up three runs in the first. Kylie Harris pitched five innings for the Bucs and allowed three runs (one earned) on no hits. She walked eight and struck out four. Melanie Laronde relieved Harris in the sixth and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits.

Coming Up: Whitworth hosts Lewis & Clark next weekend for the first games on Marks Field since April 20, 2019.