CLAREMONT, Calf. – The Whitworth University softball team opened its trip to California with two losses against Pomona-Pitzer at Wig Beach Field. Whitworth fell 8-2 in game one and 5-2 in game two.
The Pirates (1-11) smashed their first home runs of the season in game two while the Sagehens (12-4) earned their third consecutive win.
The Bucs will visit Redlands tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at noon.
Game 1: Pomona-Pitzer 8, Whitworth 2
Whitworth struck first but could not contain the Pomona-Pitzer bats in a game one loss.
Katie McKinnis opened the game with a single and advanced to third after a wild pitch and fielder's choice. Reagan Ellis' sacrifice fly scored McKinnis to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.
Momi Lyman started in the circle and matched her season-high four strikeouts through the first two innings.
The Sagehens broke through in the third after the first batter of the inning reached on a catcher's interference and came around to score. Opportunistic base running put runners into scoring position and a pair of RBI singles plated two more Pomona-Pitzer runs.
After a scoreless Pirate top of the fourth, the Sagehens scored five runs over the next two innings to break the game open. Two singles and an error resulted in the first run of the fourth, followed by a two-run triple and a sacrifice fly. Morgan Groves added a solo home run in the fifth to stretch the Sagehen lead to 8-1.
The Pirates plated a run in the sixth after Teeghan Reams drew a walk and pinch runner Natalie Singer stole two bases and scored on a throwing error.
Lyman (1-7) finished with four earned runs and five strikeouts in three innings pitched. Reiss McIntyre allowed two hits in three innings of relief.
Devin Waddell (6-3) earned the win in four innings of work. Mia Lopez pitched three innings of relief and allowed one run.
Game 2: Pomona-Pitzer 5, Whitworth 2
The Pirates showed power at the plate with two home runs, but Waddell's two-run shot in the sixth secured a Pomona-Pitzer win.
Reams struggled to find the strike zone early as the Sagehens loaded the bases with two hit batters and a single. After two consecutive outs, a walk scored a run, but Reams limited the damage with a fly out.
Pomona-Pitzer added a run in the second with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly plated another in the fourth.
The Pirates headed into the fifth still hitless and down 3-0. After two quick outs, Addie Johnson hit the first Whitworth home run of the season to right field. In the sixth, Kendel Sage followed with another solo shot to left field that cut the deficit to one. The two long balls were the only Pirate hits of the game.
With a one run lead, Lyman issued a walk to open the bottom of the sixth. The Bucs prevented a run with a play at the plate, but Waddell followed with a two-run homer to give the Sagehens a three-run cushion.
Each Whitworth hitter grounded out to close the game.
Reams (0-2) allowed three runs in four innings and struck out three. Lyman pitched 1.1 innings of relief and McIntyre pitched the final two outs of the sixth.
Nyla Springer (5-0) pitched six innings and earned the win. Audrey Reimers (1) was credited with a save.
