SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University opened senior weekend at Diana Marks Field with a pair of losses to first-place Northwest Conference opponent Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday afternoon.
The Lutes (30-8 overall, 22-4 NWC) dominated game one 15-0 before securing their second shutout of the day with a 6-0 win in game two. With the two wins, PLU clinched a share of the NWC title for the first time since 2003 and will host the 2026 NWC tournament.
The Pirates (11-26, 9-17 NWC) will look to get their offense going in Sunday's season finale with first pitch of the doubleheader set for 11:00 am. Five Whitworth seniors will be honored following the conclusion of Sunday's second game.
Game 1: Pacific Lutheran 15, Whitworth 0 (5 inn.)
Pacific Lutheran showed its offensive firepower with 15 runs on 16 hits to back a shutout from pitcher Paige Wilson.
Whitworth pitching struggled to find the zone in the first inning. The Lutes took advantage and scored five runs on two hit batters, a walk, a sacrifice fly, and a single, each with the bases loaded.
Zoe Smithson added on with a two-run homer in the second to put PLU up 7-0. Five more crossed in the third on three RBI singles and a two-run base hit from Smithson. A two-run single in the fourth and sacrifice fly in the fifth closed the Lute scoring.
Reagan Ellis went 2 for 2 at the plate to lead the Bucs. Landri Nakano recorded the only other Pirate hit.
Lina Schwippert (5-9) made the start for Whitworth and gave up four runs in the first frame despite not giving up a hit. Madison Sanchez allowed eight runs (seven earned) with a strikeout in two innings. Trinty Miller pitched the final three frames and allowed two earned runs on six hits with one strikeout.
Wilson (17-1) allowed three hits with one walk and struck out six in the five-inning shutout. Smithson was 4 for 4 with five RBIs to lead the Lutes at the plate. Kamalani Doctor went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and three runs.
Game 2: Pacific Lutheran 6, Whitworth 0
In what began as a low-scoring pitcher's duel, Pacific Lutheran scored four runs in the top of the seventh to push the game out of reach.
Both starting pitchers, Whitworth's Teeghan Reams and PLU's Maiya Anderson, settled in early and allowed just two hits through four scoreless innings.
The Lutes were the first to break through as Doctor singled home a pair of runners in the fifth to give PLU a two-run lead. Reams was able to keep the Lute offense at bay in the sixth, but the Bucs were unable to get their bats going.
PLU cushioned its lead in the top of the seventh inning. Paulo Garcia's base hit opened the inning and represented the first of five consecutive hitters to reach base. Doctor, Lex Ahlo-Garcia and Ashlyn Sera each collected RBI base hits to give the Lutes a 6-0 lead. Schwippert rebounded from her game one struggles with three strikeouts in relief to get out of the inning.
Anderson closed the door on the chance of a Pirate comeback in the final half inning.
The Whitworth offense was limited to two hits in the game, one from Reams and one from Tessa Hahn. Brynn Erdmann reached base with a walk. Teeghan Reams (3-8) took the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits with three walks and one strikeout. Schwippert, who was listed as the starter but did not enter until the seventh, allowed one hit and one walk along with her three punchouts.
Anderson (9-3) earned the win after collecting the Lutes' second shutout of the day. She allowed two hits with one walk and two strikeouts in seven innings. Doctor, Ahlo-Garcia, and Garcia each had two hits to lead PLU at the plate.
