Whitworth Softball Earns Two Wins against Willamette, 3-0 and 9-5

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Whitworth University softball pitcher Madi Perez threw a complete-game three-hitter in the first game, as the Pirates defeated Willamette University, 3-0, to begin a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Marks Field. In the second game, the Pirates built a 6-0 lead and outscored Willamette, 9-5, to sweep the twinbill.

With the pair of victories, Whitworth advanced its record to 9-3 on the season and to 2-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 0-8 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

The Bearcats and Pirates will complete their four-game NWC series with another doubleheader on Sunday, March 1. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PST).

In the second game, Molly Lathrop (So., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS) of Willamette went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Mallory Asaro (So., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, while Kayla Rieger (Sr., OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) went 2 for 4 and scored one run.

Perez pitched a strong game for the Pirates in the opener. She achieved six strikeouts and gave up two walks. She allowed just one extra-base hit, a double by Rieger in the seventh inning. Perez improved to 5-1 on the season.

Willamette's Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) also threw a complete game to start the doubleheader. She registered two strikeouts, while allowing six hits and three walks.

The Pirates scored the first run of the day in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Alyssa Hall hit a bunt single and then stole second base. She scored on a two-out single up the middle by Peyton McMahon.

In the top of the second, Asaro was hit by a pitch and Danielle Saunders (Fr., OF, Salem, OR/McNary HS) hit an infield single toward first. Kathryn Moore (Fr., 3B, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Asaro was thrown out at home on a grounder toward second by Rieger.

Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) walked to load the bases, but another groundout ended the threat.

Whitworth completed the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. Sacha Clow walked and stole second base. She scored on a double to left field by Kelsey Stroshine. A fly ball moved Stroshine to third, and a single up the middle by Tessa Matthews brought her home.

Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) singled and stole second base for the Bearcats in the fifth inning, but she was left at third base following back-to-back groundouts. Rieger's double with one out in the seventh provided Willamette with a runner in scoring position, but Perez forced a strikeout and a grounder to the circle to end the game.

McMahon and Matthews each finished the first game 2 for 2 with an RBI for the Pirates. Stroshine was 1 for 3 with a run and an RBI.

Three runs in the first inning of the second game gave Whitworth an early lead. Shannon Wessel and Kelsey Downey provided RBI singles for the first two runs, while McMahon crossed the plate with the third run on a wild pitch.

The Pirates tacked on two runs in the second inning on singles by Chelsey Hayes and Wessel. Clow blasted a solo homer to left field in the third stanza, giving Whitworth a 6-0 lead.

Willamette left five runners on base in the first five innings, but rallied in the sixth inning to cut Whitworth's lead to 6-4. The Bearcats took advantage of five hits and two errors during the inning.

Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) doubled to left center to start the rally. Carrie Fox (Fr., OF, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS) pinch-ran for Pender with one out, and scored on a double by Asaro. Rieger singled and then stole second base. With two outs and runners at second and third, Lathrop singled to left center to drive home Asaro.

Myranda Ramirez (So., OF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) followed with a single down the right field line that brought in Rieger. Lathrop scored on a wild throw from right field.

Whitworth countered Willamette's rally by scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth. Matthews pounded out an RBI double and Hayes belted an RBI triple. Megan John drove in Hayes with a fielder's choice.

Pender reached base on an error in the top of the seventh. Saunders, who pinch-ran for Pender, eventually scored on a bases-loaded groundout by Claire Hansen (So., C, Auburn, CA/Placer HS). Hansen's out was the second of the inning. Lathrop popped up to shortstop for the final out of the game.

Makayle Lefever received the pitching win for Whitwoth. She tossed 5 1/3 innings and allowed six hits and three runs. Perez pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and gave up four hits and two runs. Willamette starter Victoria Bradshaw (Jr., P, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) took the loss for the Bearcats.

Wessel topped Whitworth's offense in the second game, as she went 3 for 4 with a run and two RBIs. Hayes, McMahon and Matthews each recorded two hits, with Hayes and Matthews also scoring two runs apiece.