by Tyler Jezierski
Whitworth’s softball team went to play in the Northwest Conference Tournament last Friday and Saturday, hosted by top-seeded Linfield College. Whitworth fell to Pacific (Ore.) 3-2 in the first game, won the second game against Willamette 6-2, and then lost the double-elimination game against Pacific 4-3.
In the first game, freshman Kayla Bastastini went 2-3 and sophomore Alyssa Hall 2-4 at the plate. Freshman Madi Perez (14-6) struck out five, walked two, gave up eight hits, and allowed two runs in a 6.2 inning performance.
The Pirates moved on to play Willamette, who had suffered a first round defeat against Linfield, 14-3. Whitworth was able to knock off the Bearcats in its second game.
Whitworth put up five runs in the first inning, rebounding with tenacity from the first loss against Pacific. Junior Peyton McMahon went 4-4, with one run and one RBI. Meanwhile, senior Julia Johnson went 2-3 and Batastini 2-4 at the plate with three runs batted in.
Madi Perez was back out in the circle for the Bucs as she gained the win (15-6). She allowed eight hits, two runs, and struck out one in seven innings.
After the win against Willamette, the Pirates went back to face Pacific. Pacific had lost the second game of the tournament to Linfield. Concluding a close battle with combined offense and defensive plays, Whitworth came up short, lost 4-3.
McMahon went 2-4 with an RBI and senior Taylor Gilbert was 2-3 at the plate. Perez (15-7) only gave up two hits and one run in three innings of work, but took the loss in the end.
Whitworth ended the season with a final record of 27-16.