SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth softball will look to shake off a sweep in the conference opener as they prepare for a four-game series in Salem against Willamette.

Check the softball scheduling page for scores and streaming options for all the weekend's action.

The Pirates: Whitworth (4-12, 0-4 NWC) is coming off a tough week against some tough competition. The Pirates dropped a doubleheader on Thursday against Division II Central Washington before coming home to four-games against nationally ranked Linfield.

In game one against Central, Whitworth racked up fifteen hits but managed just three runs as they attempted to comeback from a 6-0 first inning hole. Central scored all seven of its runs with two outs including that huge first inning. The Pirates were shutout in game two and held to just one hit in the 8-0 loss. The Wildcats scored four the first inning before tacking on single runs in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth inning on their way to the win. Unfortunately, the Pirates couldn't seem to get the bats going against Linfield either. Linfield took the first three games of the series 4-0, 10-0, and 12-0 allowing just seven hits combined; Tayah Kelly threw 15 scoreless innings on the weekend. In the series finale, Whitworth fought hard holding a 5-3 lead in the fifth. Jessica Rusconi accounted for three RBIs, driving in Amy Pederson in the second inning before doubling in the third to score Taylor Hofheins and Julia Dillon to put Whitworth up 5-3. Linfield caught fire in the final three frames, scoring 10 unanswered runs sparked by Sophia vanderSom's grand slam and Jaycee Levas' solo home run. Whitworth has lost 17 straight to Linfield dating back to 2021.

The Pirates struggles offensively are in part due to facing Kelly, the two-time conference pitcher of the year, who's posted a 0.21 ERA, 7-0 record, and 50 strikeouts in 34 innings of work this season. On the season, Whitworth is batting .219 including 14 doubles and three home runs, a slugging percentage of .275 and .289 on base which are all lowest in the conference currently. Defensively, the Pirates' fielding percentage is .959, the pitching staff has a 5.61 ERA allowing a .348 batting average.

Top Performers: Haley Montoya is batting .273, leading the team with 16 hits, four doubles, and a .400 slugging percentage. Reagan Ellis leads Whitworth in average (.286), and Julia Dillon leads the team in RBIs (7). On the mound, Momi Lyman has a 4.47 ERA, in 36 innings of work she's walked 11 batters and struck out 19. Corinne Vasiloff's ERA is 5.43, she's struck out 26 and walked 18 in 59 innings pitched.

The Opponent: Willamette (4-10, 0-4 NWC) had lost seven straight before a 5-3 win over Pomona-Pitzer on Friday, March 15. The Bearcats were swept by Lewis & Clark in their conference opening series, like the Pirates they'll be searching to get in the conference win column.

Willamette is batting .222, they've got 17 extra base hits, a slugging percentage of .317, and a .312 on-base percentage. The Bearcats have scored 56 runs this season (Whitworth has scored 48), but 12 of those came in a 13-12 fifteen-inning loss to Pomona-Pitzer last week. Mia Rogers leads Willamette in average (.353), on base percentage (.405), and hits (12). Emma Elliott has been the other offensive threat with 11 hits, five home runs (to lead the NWC), and 11 RBIs. Whitworth has won 20 straight against Willamette, 12 of those by five or more runs, the last loss was in 2017. The Bearcats are coached by Paige Hall who's in her fifth season, she will be seeking her first win against the Pirates.

Montoya making leaderboards: Haley Montoya is in the conference's top ten in several categories. The senior second baseman is eight in hits (16), sixth in runs scored (12), and fifth in stolen bases (7).

Dillon hits for power: Julia Dillon blasted a pair of home runs in Whitworth's six-game season-opening series in California, that total still has her in an eight-way tie for third in the NWC. She's batting .224 with 11 hits and 7 RBIs.

The Coach: Bob Castle took over as Whitworth's head coach in 2019 and is now entering his fifth season guiding the Pirates. Castle was previously an assistant coach on Whitworth's staff from 2015-2018 where they won three NWC titles. Castle earned the first winning season of his head coaching tenure in 2022 leading Whitworth to a 25-17 record.