NEWBERG, Ore. – Whitworth University completed a four game Northwest Conference softball sweep at George Fox University on Sunday, rolling to a 14-3 win in the opener and rallying for a 6-4 in the the finale. The Pirates improved to 5-10 overall and 4-8 in the NWC.

Game 1 - Box Score

Whitworth's weekend power surge continued in the 14-3 win. Starting pitcher Jessie LaPlante hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to give herself an early lead. Lacey Parry hit a two-run shot in the in the second inning, her third home run of the weekend. Then in the third inning Josie Ball highlighted a seven-run rally with a grand slam. Halley Cey added a two-run single later in the inning.

The Pirates led 14-0 before George Fox scrapped for three runs in the bottom of the inning. But it was not enough to prevent the game from ending on the eight-run rule.

LaPlante allowed only two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks. She improved to 4-5 this season.

Game 2 - Box Score

Unlike the first three games of the series, the Pirates had a real battle in the fourth contest. Whitworth trailed the entire game until rallying for four runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Mandee Edwards tied the game in the second inning 2-2 with an RBI single, but the Bruins rallied to take a 4-2 lead in the third. The score remained 4-2 until the top of the seventh. Rachel Anderson singled home a run to pull the Pirates within 4-3, then Edwards singled again to tie the contest. Halley Cey doubled with the bases loaded to drive home the winning runs.

Jessie LaPlante earned her second win of the day with 4.1 innings of scoreless relief. She allowed only three hits while striking out two and walking one. Cey finished 3 for 5 and Edwards was 2 for 4 with two runs batted in each.

Whitworth will not play again until March 24th when the Pirates begin a string of eight games over four days in California during spring break.