by Matt Spencer
Whitworth’s softball team faced off against the George Fox Bruins that knocked them out of the Northwest Conference Tournament last year. The Pirates won two games of the four-game series this weekend and move to 9-3 on the year with a 6-2 conference record.
At Saturday’s games it was a pitcher’s duel as the teams combined for five runs in two game. In the first game, an unearned run in the seventh led to the only run in the 1-0 Whitworth loss. Whitworth’s junior pitcher Madi Perez threw a gem allowing only four hits in seven innings of work. But the offense was not able to give Perez run support, as the Pirate stranded seven runners in the game.
Whitworth was able to recover and take the second game of the series 3-1. Junior pitcher Makayla Lefever earned the win by throwing seven strong innings and allowing one earned run on a home run by George Fox’s Courtney Howard.
For the Pirate’s offense in game two, it was sophomore Chelsey Hayes and junior Tessa Matthews who delivered with RBIs in the third and fifth innings, respectively. Throughout Saturday, senior Alyssa Hall provided a spark for the lineup gathering three hits on six at-bats with two bases stolen.
George Fox and Whitworth’s offenses had a busy Sunday. Game three brought 15 baserunners to the plate on 19 combine hits as George Fox came away with the 8-7 win. It was a big day for the Pirate’s Matthews who had a double and a two-run home run in the game.
The Bruins victory was led by seniors Courtney Howard and Kat Hylton who combined for a triple, a home run, four RBIs and five hits.
Game four swung the pendulum back towards the Pirates as Lefever (6-0) picked up her second complete game shutout of the weekend. With some insurance runs off the bat of sophomore Michelle Silva with a two-run home run, the Pirates were able to even the weekend series at two wins and two losses.
Next week, Whitworth’s softball team (9-3) goes on the road to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon for a four-game series. After the weeknd, the Pirates are tied for second place behind the Pacific Boxers.