By: Cody Wright
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth University softball team opens Northwest Conference play this weekend after a brief non-conference tune up. The Pirates will visit defending champion Linfield in a four-game series starting with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon. Sunday's doubleheader will begin at 11:00am.
Check the scheduling page for live links to this weekend's action.
The Pirates: Whitworth played an opening weekend doubleheader on February 22nd against College of Idaho. The Bucs fell 11-0 in game one and dropped game two 2-1.
In game one, the Yotes scored two runs in the second before stringing together five hits and adding three runs in the third, all with two outs. College of Idaho put the game out of reach with six runs scored in the bottom of the fourth. Kelly Hruza recorded both of Whitworth's hits. Game two was a pitcher's dual as Momi Lyman held the Yotes to just one run through six innings. The Pirates tied the game when Kendel Sage hit an RBI single in the sixth. The Yotes were able to load the bases in the seventh and a single in the gap plated the winning run. Lyman gave up just two hits and two runs in 6.2 innings of work. Makena Hofford led the Pirates with two hits.
Whitworth was scheduled to play two games against Eastern Oregon the following day, but the trip was cut short due to weather.
The Opponent: Third ranked Linfield hosts Whitworth after participating in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia. The Wildcats went 5-1 on the trip with wins over then sixth ranked Tufts and 10th ranked Trine.
Linfield has been strong at the plate through six games with a conference leading .421 team batting average and 61 runs scored. They are led by 2024 NWC Player of the Year Brynn Nelson, who has a .476 batting average and is tied with teammate Claire Seats for second in the conference in hits (10). Junior Cydney Hess is second in the conference in home runs with four and paces the league in RBIs (12). In the circle, sophomore Tyler McNeley has three starts under her belt with a 3.67 ERA and league-leading 31 strikeouts. McNeley and Hess were each voted NWC softball Student-Athletes of the week.
Immediate Impact: The Pirates have 10 new faces on the 2025 roster, and many could have a big role this season. Junior transfer Teeghan Reams started both games for the Pirates, one as a designated player and one in the circle while pitching in each. Freshman Kendel Sage started in left field for each of the Pirates first two games and batted in the lone Pirate run. Kendel's twin sister Camryn Sage got a start in right field and collected a hit and run scored. Local freshman Natalie Singer started at second base in game two for the Pirates and had two putouts. These Pirate newcomers will continue to show their ability to impact games and make winning plays throughout the season.
The Coach: Bob Castle is now in his sixth season as Whitworth's head coach after taking over the program in 2019. He served as an assistant on staff from 2015-2018 and was a part of three Northwest Conference titles. Castle earned his first winning season as head coach in 2022 with a 25-17 record and has guided the Pirates to three NWC tournament appearances.
