REDLANDS, Calif. – Whitworth split its season-opening softball doubleheader on Friday at the University of Redlands, winning the opener 7-2, but losing the second game 13-5 in five innings.
Heather Menzer went 4-6 with four RBIs on the day for Whitworth.
The Pirates will continue their season-opening trip to Southern California with a doubleheader at Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday.
Game 1: Whitworth 7, Redlands 2
Corinne Vasiloff tossed a complete game while Julia Dillon had a pair of RBI doubles to lead the Pirates to a win in their season-opener.
Dillon had RBI doubles in the first and third innings to help Whitworth build a 4-1 lead. Mattea Nelson had a two-run double in the fifth to increase the lead to 6-2. Dillon and Nelson each finished 2-4 with two RBIs, while Menzer went 2-3.
Vasiloff allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks in her complete-game effort. She struck out four batters.
Ally Forbell started in the circle for Redlands and took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk in three innings.
Game 2: Redlands 13, Whitworth 5 (5 innings)
Leading 5-4, the Bulldogs (1-2) blew the game open with six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored twice more in the fifth to end the game on the seven-run rule.
Menzer gave the Pirates an early 3-0 lead with her first home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field. After Redlands scored five straight runs, Kennedy Robison drove in Reagan Ellis with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to pull the Bucs within 5-4.
Kalyn Kershner had a two-run triple and Avery Duran added a two-run double for Redlands in the Bulldogs' six-run fourth inning. Kershner finished the game 4-4 with five RBIs. Alexis Campos was 3-4 with two RBIs and three runs.
Menzer went 2-3 with four RBIs for Whitworth and scored twice. She was the only Pirate with more than one hit.
Momi Lyman (0-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits and four walks in two innings. Vasiloff threw two innings of relief and gave up seven runs (five earned) on six hits. Trinity Miller threw the final inning and recorded two outs.
Brianna Garcia (1-0) got the win after allowing four runs on five hits and two walks in four innings.