SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth University softball team suffered a pair of five-inning losses to George Fox in a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Diana Marks Field. The Bruins took game one 10-1 before a 12-2 win in game two.
The Pirates (4-24 overall, 4-14 NWC) could not get their bats going while Bruins (20-10 overall, 14-4 NWC) did much of their damage with the longball. The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday at 11:00 am.
Game 1: George Fox 10, Whitworth 1 (5 Inn.)
Teeghan Reams' first home run of the season gave the Bucs an early lead, but the George Fox offense surged to a win with three home runs.
Reams opened the second inning with a solo home run that cleared the center field wall.
The Bruins responded in the third with a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch to take a two-run a lead.
In the fourth, GFU stretched its lead to four with back-to-back home runs before a five-run fifth inning put the game out of reach. An RBI single kicked off the inning before Sharon Tomei hit a three-run home run. Another RBI base hit scored the 10th Bruin run of the game.
Kendel Sage and Katie McKinnis each singled in the fifth, but Whitworth could not extend the game.
Jordyn Relethford (8-3) got the win after allowing three hits and one run in five innings.
Reams (1-5) allowed five-runs and struck out three in 3.2 innings. Reiss McIntyre allowed five runs in 1.1 innings of relief.
Game 2: George Fox 12, Whitworth 2 (5 Inn.)
Whitworth again struck first, but the George Fox bats stayed hot with three more home runs in a game two win.
Whitworth loaded the bases to start the first with two singles and a walk. Taylor Hofheins was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat to put the Pirates up by one.
George Fox took a commanding lead with six runs scored in the second. An RBI single and double pushed the first two runs across before Nicole Campa followed with a grand slam. The Bruins kept the bases busy in the third with a pair of walks and stolen base. A base hit scored a run before Makayla Noone roped a two-run triple into the gap. Kiley Harris added to the inning with a two-run home run. A ground out ended the inning.
The Bucs fought in the fourth after Camryn Sage opened the inning with a hit. Natalie Singer followed with a pinch-hit single two batters later. Megan Highfill put the second Whitworth run on the board with a line drive up the middle. Singer tried to score from second but was thrown out at the plate.
Tomei, who finished the game 3-4 at the plate with a pair of RBIs, closed the scoring with her second and the Bruins sixth home run of the day.
McKinnis led the Pirates at the plate with two hits in the game and three on the day.
Nicole Ledendecker (7-3) earned the win after giving up just two hits and one run in three innings pitched. Bailey Farrimond allowed four hits and one run in the final two innings.
Momi Lyman (2-14) was handed the loss after six earned runs on four hits in 1.2 innings. Annie Brose allowed five runs in 1.1 innings and Reams allowed a run with three strikeouts to finish the game.
