SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth softball closed the 2026 season with a pair of losses to visiting Pacific Lutheran in a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Sunday at Diana Marks Field.
The Pirates, who finished the season 11-28 overall and 9-19 against NWC opponents, hung with the Lutes (32-8, 24-4 NWC) in a 4-1 game one loss before PLU took game two 12-0 in five innings.
Game 1: Pacific Lutheran 4, Whitworth 1
Whitworth matched an early Pacific Lutheran lead, but the Lutes took advantage of their opportunities and took the win.
Similarly to game one in the series, PLU put on the run on the board in the first inning with a bases loaded walk and no hits. The Pirates responded quickly and tied the game with a single off the bat of senior Reagan Ellis that scored Kendel Sage.
After a runner reached on an error, the Lutes retook the lead with an RBI double from Aby Redwine in the third inning. A double steal with runners on the corners in the fourth put PLU up by a pair.
Whitworth tallied a hit in each of the next three innings, including a runner on third with one out in the sixth, but couldn't push a run across the plate.
An RBI double in the top of the seventh gave the Lutes a 4-1 lead and Paige Wilson earned her 18th win in bottom half.
Kendel Sage was 2 for 3 to lead the Bucs at the plate. Ellis had one hit and one walk. Senior Jaedyn Dron made her first start of the season in right field. Reams (3-9) pitched the first three innings in the circle and allowed three runs (one earned) with four walks and four strikeouts. Lina Schwippert pitched a strong four innings of relief, allowing one run and striking out six.
Wilson (18-1) allowed six hits, one run, one walk and struck out three in the win. Lex Ahlo Garcia led the Lutes with two walks, a hit, and two RBIs.
Game 2: Pacific Lutheran 12, Whitworth 0 (5 inn.)
Pacific Lutheran poured on 12 runs over the second and third innings to take a lead that was too much to overcome.
Zoe Smithson opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning. After an RBI single and sacrifice fly, a run scored on a double steal with runners on the corners. Another RBI base hit put the Lutes up five after two. Three two-run singles and an RBI double in the third pushed the Pirate deficit to 12.
Two of Whitworth's four hits came consecutively in the fourth inning, and Ellis was able to advance to third. Again, the Bucs were held off the scoreboard.
PLU starting pitcher Maiya Anderson (10-3) allowed the four hits in four innings and struck out one. Rachel Treves pitched the final inning.
Trinity Miller (1-2) made her third career start and allowed five runs on five hits and struck out two. Madison Sanchez allowed seven runs in 0.2 innings and Schwippert again pitched a strong final 2.1 innings. Ellis, Reams, Tessa Hahn, and Aubrey Bauer recorded the four Pirate hits.
Following the conclusion of the game, Reams, Lizzy Bradford, Dron, Miller and Ellis were each honored for their contributions to Whitworth softball.
The Pirates will be back in action next spring.
