Taylor Jones | Staff Writer
Whitworth softball won one game (15-9) out of a four-game series with Pacific Lutheran Feb. 25 and 26 in Parkland, Washington.
Pacific Lutheran won both games on Feb. 25: 8-12 and 9-10.
Whitworth and Pacific Lutheran played two more games on Feb 26. PLU won the first game 6-4 and Whitworth won the second game 15-9.
“While the outcomes were not what we expected, it was great to see our offense get going,” head coach Bob Castle said.
During the second game on Feb. 26, the Pirates took a strong 6-0 lead, until the Lutes tied the game in the fifth inning led by an Erin McGrath home run.
“After PLU tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the 5th inning, we knew that we had to do everything we could to avoid losing our last game of the weekend,” Heather Menzer said.
Whitworth finished strong in the last inning with nine runs, which led to a 15-9 Pirate win.
Two singles and an error loaded the bases for the Pirates, setting up a Rylee Gentner grand slam, which was followed up later in the inning by a Maddy Thomas home run.
“Both teams made some mistakes over the weekend that led to high-scoring games,” Castle said.
“Compared to the first three games, we just really focused on the little things and closing the big innings defensively. By focusing on that, we were able to capitalize on their mistakes,” Rylee Gentner said.
“We ended on a high note and it’s great to see this team come together more each week,” Castle said.
Whitworth will play next weekend against Pacific (Oregon), the first home games of the season for the Pirates at Diana Marks Field. The games will be at noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, and on Sunday, March 6, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.