SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth softball team closed a four-game Northwest Conference series against visiting Willamette with a 11-1 five-inning loss on Sunday afternoon at Diana Marks Field.
Pirates dropped three of four on the long rainy weekend and fell to 1-9 overall and 1-7 in the NWC. The Bearcats moved to 3-5 in conference play and 6-6 overall.
Willamette struck early and put eight runs on the board in the first inning, all without an extra base hit. The first five batters of the game reached base, including consecutive RBI singles. The Bearcats stretched their lead after four more singles and two errors pushed an additional six runs across the plate.
Three more Willamette runs scored in the top of the third. The Pirates hoped for a quick inning after two ground outs, but the Bearcats strung together three singles and a walk to extend the frame and their lead. A Whitworth error grew the deficit to 11.
Kennedy Robison recorded her third hit of the series in the bottom of the third. Katie McKinnis followed with a line-drive double to left field that allowed Robison to score the first Pirate run of the game.
Reagan Ellis' base hit in the fourth was the third and final hit for the Whitworth offense.
Momi Lyman (1-6) started in the circle and allowed seven runs in a third of an inning. Reiss McIntyre pitched the final 4.2 innings for the Pirates and finished with four runs allowed and five strikeouts.
Kenna Davis (4-2) allowed one run and struck out six in her third win of the weekend.
Whitworth will head to California for four doubleheaders against Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents, starting on March 21st at Pomona-Pitzer.
