CALDWELL, Idaho - After having its originally schedule opening weekend at the Capitol Cup cancelled by weather, Whitworth paired with another scuttled participant from that event, Albertson College of Idaho, and played a three game series with the Coyotes this weekend. The Pirates won all three contests against Albertson, a team that came into the weekend with a 6-1 record - the best start in school history.

Game 1: Whitworth 5, Albertson 3 (9 innings)

In the opener on Saturday, the Pirates rallied from a 3-1 deficit with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to force extra innings. Then the Bucs scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to notch the victory. Jessie LaPlante was the star for Whitworth, going the distance in the circle for the win while allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out five. She also scored all three runs in regulation that tied the game. Morgan Thomsen and Rachel Anderson scored the winning runs in the 9th after Heather Case's fly ball was dropped in right field. Lindsey David led the Bucs with three hits, including a double and an RBI single. Case also had an RBI double.

Game 2: Whitworth 3, Albertson 1

The Pirates swept Saturday's doubleheader by scoring single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings, including a solo home run by Lacey Kerr, to lead 3-0. Case had an RBI single in the second and Amber Fowler added an RBI double in the third. ACI would get a Becky Camperud RBI double in the fifth, but the Yotes could not get closer, leaving at least one runner on base in each inning.

Case went the distance in the circle, allowing only one run while scattering 10 hits. She struck out six while walking only one.

Game 3: Whitworth 2, Albertson 2 (5 innings)

Sarah Froman went 3-for-4, including a three-run home run, as Whitworth College completed a three-game sweep of Albertson on Sunday afternoon, topping the Lady Yotes, 12-2, at Symms Field.

The Pirates (3-0), who qualified for last season's NCAA Division III national tournament, pounded out 12 hits against three ACI pitchers in the win. Froman's big blow came in a four-run second inning, chasing Coyote starter Katie Zillner, a day after the junior fanned 12 Whitworth batters.

Heather Case and Halley Cey each had a pair of hits and scored twice, while Morgan Thomsen drove in a pair of runs.

The Yotes (6-4) mustered just three hits against Bucs starter Jessie LaPlante - scoring one run on an error and another on a Brooke Judy RBI single. LaPlante struck out four and didn't walk a batter.

Coming up: Whitworth is scheduled to open Northwest Conference play at Pacific University (Ore.) next weekend. The Pirates and Boxers are picked by conference coaches to be the top contenders to unseat defending champion Linfield this season, finishing second and third in the NWC preseason poll, respectively. Whitworth took three of four from Pacific in a four game series in Spokane last season.