THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Whitworth University softball team fell twice to California Lutheran in a non-conference doubleheader at William Hutton Field on Sunday afternoon. Whitworth dropped game one 10-4 before a 9-1 six-inning loss in game two.
The Regals (11-2) won their sixth straight contest while the Pirates fell to 1-15 on the season.
The Bucs will close their spring break trip to California with a doubleheader at La Verne starting at 3:00pm on Monday.
Game 1: California Lutheran 10, Whitworth 4
Whitworth tied a season-high in runs scored but Cal Lutheran's late inning offense propelled them to a win.
The Regals put two runs on the board in the bottom half of the first after an RBI single and wild pitch. Cal Lutheran added another in the third after three consecutive singles.
After two scoreless innings, the Pirates broke through with a run in the fourth. Teeghan Reams started the inning with a double and Reagan Ellis followed with a single. Taylor Hofheins hit into a fielder's choice that brought home the first Whitworth run.
Cal Lutheran stretched its lead to five in the fifth. A fielder's choice, double and single each pushed a run across the plate.
The Pirates fought back in the top half of the fifth after five consecutive hitters reached base. Kennedy Robison singled home Camryn Sage and Katie McKinnis followed with an RBI double. Ellis' sacrifice fly shrunk the Regal lead to 6-4. Two pop outs ended the Whitworth scoring run.
With a two-run lead, Cal Lutheran scored four insurance runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth. Each Regal hit in the inning was a single, capped by Reyna Perez' two-run base hit that extended the lead to six heading into the final half inning. Whitworth got two runners on in the seventh but could not close the gap.
Kalli Strahm (2-0) gave up four runs but earned the win in four innings of work. Mia Cortez pitched a scoreless inning of relief and Ashlyn Flinchum recorded the final six outs.
Reiss McIntyre (0-4) and Reams each pitched three innings for the Pirates with McIntyre getting the start. Each pitcher allowed five runs. Robison, Reams, and Addi Bale each had two hits to lead the Whitworth bats.
Game 2: California Lutheran 9, Whitworth 1 (6 inn.)
The Whitworth offense mustered just one run and struggled to slow down the Regal bats.
Cal Lutheran again generated an early lead with five runs in the first three innings. Mia Antonino hit a two-run double and a ground out allowed another run to cross in the second. A Pirate error and RBI single extended the Regal lead to five in the third. Another Whitworth defensive miscue led to another run in the fifth.
Pirates broke through in the sixth with their first and only run of the game. Kelly Hruza kicked off the inning with a double and Ellis followed with a single up the middle for her second RBI of the day.
A two-run double and two RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth secured a Regal a six-inning win. Seven different Cal Lutheran players record an RBI.
Momi Lyman (1-9) allowed nine runs (four earned) and struck out three in a full 5.2 innings of work for the Pirates.
Olivia Oergel (2-0) earned the win and gave up one run on eight hits. Mia Cortez pitched the final inning.
