SALEM, Ore. – Visiting Whitworth University earned its first Northwest Conference win of the season with a softball doubleheader split at Willamette on Friday afternoon.
The Pirates (3-18, 1-9 NWC) fell 4-2 in game one before Camryn Sage hit a go-ahead three run double to lead the Bucs to a 7-4 game two win. The Bearcats moved to 9-17 overall and 6-8 against conference opponents.
Whitworth will look to carry the momentum of a game two win into Saturday's doubleheader beginning at 11:00 am.
Game 1: Willamette 4, Whitworth 2
The Pirates reached double digit hits for the first time this season, but a pair of late inning runs lifted the Bearcats to a game one win.
Willamette struck first with a pair of two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded, Pirate starting pitcher Madison Sanchez limited the damage with a fly out.
Following an error that allowed Tessa Hahn to reach base, Teeghan Reams hit a two-run shot over the left field wall, her third of the season, to even the score for Whitworth in the third.
Both teams traded hits but were held off the scoreboard until the sixth inning when the Bearcats broke the tie. Emma Elliott hit an RBI single and Maya Filger followed with another run scoring hit to give Willamette a 4-2 advantage.
The Bucs battled in the final half inning. Brynn Erdmann represented the game's go-ahead run with a single to load the bases, but Willamette relief pitcher Mckenzee Petersen induced a double play to end the game.
Four Whitworth hitters recorded a multi-hit game, led by Aubrey Bauer who went 3 for 4 at the plate. Kendel Sage, Reams, and Erdman each collected a pair.
Sanchez (1-7) allowed four runs and struck out three in 5.1 inning from the circle. Reams struck out one in 0.2 innings of relief.
Filger started in the circle for the Bearcats and allowed two runs on five hits in three innings. She also led Willamette with a pair of RBIs at the plate. Petersen (4-4) earned the win after pitching a scoreless four innings of relief.
Game 2: Whitworth 7, Willamette 4
Camryn Sage smacked a go-ahead bases-clearing double in the top of the seventh inning to lead the Pirates to their first NWC win of the season.
The Whitworth bats started hot as the Bucs jumped out to a four-run lead through two innings. Hahn put the Pirates up a run in the first with an RBI triple that scored Kendel Sage. In the second, a throwing error allowed Kendel Sage to score. Hahn hit a sacrifice fly and Reagan Ellis followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.
After three scoreless innings, the Bearcats broke through in the fourth. Desirae Hatfield hit an RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead in half. An RBI triple and RBI double in the fifth pulled Willamette even at four.
Whitworth threatened in the sixth with a pair of runners in scoring position, but Willamette held the Bucs off the scoreboard.
The Pirates against applied pressure in the seventh with three straight singles to load the bases. This time, Camryn Sage followed with a go-ahead line drive down the left field line that cleared the bases and gave Whitworth a 7-4 lead.
Two Bearcat batters reached base in the bottom of the seventh, but Reams secured the win with a strikeout.
The Pirates set a new season-high in hits in both games, this time totaling 11. Camryn Sage went 3 for 4 at the plate with three doubles. Kendel Sage had two hits and two runs while six other hitters recorded one hit.
Lina Schwippert started in the circle for the Bucs and allowed four runs with three strikeouts in four innings. Reams (1-3) earned her first win of the season with two hits allowed and four strikeouts in three innings.
Maddy Tuning allowed four runs on four hits in the start for Willamette. Lizzie Brasher (3-6) took the loss with three runs allowed in five innings of relief. Petersen led the Bearcats with three hits.
