McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The 2022 Whitworth softball season came to an end with a 4-1 loss to Pacific Lutheran in a loser-out game at the Northwest Conference tournament on Saturday.

The Pirates finish 25-17 after placing fourth in the regular season standings.  PLU (29-13) continues on to play in the tournament.

After Whitworth was unable to score in the top of the first despite a double and a single to put two runners on with only one out, the Lutes jumped ahead 1-0 on Erin McGrath's RBI double in the bottom of the inning.

Delayna Waite tied the game with a two-out solo home run to left center field in the top of the second. 

PLU scored three runs in the third to take control.  McGrath added another RBI double to give the Lutes the lead.  She scored the final run later in the inning on an RBI single by Sarah Potwin.

Whitworth struggled to mount a tying rally in the final innings.  The Bucs could not take advantage of Waite's double in the fifth, or consecutive singles to start the top of the sixth.  Whitworth was retired in order in the top of the seventh.

Cassidy Conrad (11-2) handcuffed the Bucs, scattering eight hits.  Corinne Vasiloff (14-14) allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks.  She struck out five batters.