by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

SPOKANE, Wash. – Heather Menzer drove in the go-ahead runs with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to lead the Whitworth University softball team to a Northwest Conference split with No. 3 Linfield on Saturday at Diana Marks Field.

Whitworth (9-15, 7-5 NWC) fell 7-4 in the opener before winning the second game 8-4. The Pirates struck out just a combined three times on the day against the NWC strikeout leaders Maddy Podnar and Tayah Kelley. Linfield moves to 26-4 overall and 15-3 in conference play.

The Pirates and Wildcats will play another doubleheader tomorrow, beginning at 11 a.m. The seniors will be recognized before the game.

Game 1 – Linfield 7, Whitworth 4

Whitworth trailed by no more than three runs in the series opener but left 12 runners on base. Maddy Thomas was the only Pirate with a multi-hit game, batting 2-2 with an RBI and was hit by a pitch twice.

The Wildcats led 3-0 after the first two innings. Kelsey Wilkinson, who finished 3-3 on the game, had a double, an RBI-single and a run scored to help Linfield gain the early lead.

The Pirates narrowed the margin to 3-2 in the bottom of the third. Brynn Radke drove in Kaylie Lowery with a double to get on the board. Radke scored after Kylie Bardwell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it a one-run game.

Linfield scored two runs in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 5-2. Amanda Reser and Wilkinson recorded RBIs in the frame for the Wildcats.

Mattea Nelson scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the fourth to bring the Pirates back within two.

The Wildcats added a run in the fifth and the Pirates scored one more in the sixth to bring the score to 6-4. Thomas drove in the Pirates' run with a double.

Katrina Johns recorded her second RBI of the game in the top of the seventh and the Wildcats held on for the 7-4 victory in game one.

Maddy Podnar (11-2) earned the win in the circle for the Wildcats, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits in six innings of work.

Drea Schwaier-Wolf (4-6) took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in five innings pitched. Melanie Laronde relieved Schwaier-Wolf in the sixth and allowed an unearned run on one hit.

Game 2 – Whitworth 8, Linfield 4

A pair of fifth-inning home runs from Menzer and Rylee Gentner propelled the Pirates past the Wildcats in the second game. Menzer's go-ahead homer came after Linfield tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth. Kylie Harris and the Pirate defense held the Wildcats scoreless through the final two innings to secure the victory over No. 3 Linfield.

Linfield had a similar start as the first game, getting out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, but this time the Pirates responded with a four-run bottom of the second to take their first lead of the day. Lowery tied the game at 3-3, reaching on a fielder's choice to score Gentner, and Radke's sacrifice fly brought home Jazz Johnson for the 4-3 lead.

Whitworth maintained its one-run lead until the top of the fifth when Abi Proffitt tied the game for the Wildcats with an RBI-single.

The Pirates answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of two-out homers by Menzer and Gentner to split with the Wildcats on Saturday.

Gentner recorded three RBIs with two runs scored, finishing 1-3 at the plate. Menzer went 1-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Nelson finished 2-3 with an RBI.

Corinne Vasiloff (3-3) got the win in the circle for the Pirates, allowing four runs on 10 hits in five innings. Harris earned the save, holding the Wildcats hitless through the last two innings, forcing three straight groundouts in the seventh.

Tayah Kelley (11-2) recorded just her second pitching loss of the season, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits in six innings of work.