SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University built early leads then held on to sweep visiting Lewis & Clark College 12-4 and 5-4 in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Marks Field. The Pirates improved to 11-16 overall and 8-7 in the NWC, while the Pioneers slipped to 2-27, 2-20.

Cey went 3-3 and scored three times in game 1

Whitworth 12, L&C 4 (5 innings) - Box Score

Whitworth scored eight runs in the first inning and three more in the second to open a quick 11-0 lead. L&C rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth before Whitworth ended the game with a single run in the bottom of the fifth to gain the eight-run advantage.

Halley Cey went 3-3 at the plate and scored three runs, including the game-deciding run in the fifth. She also drove in two runs. Carrie Gibson had a two run triple in the first inning and drove in two more in the second with a single. Sara Rylaarsdam also drove in a pair of runs for the Pirates.

Karyne Sander led the Pioneers at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a two-run single in L&C's four-run fifth. Sarah DiSabatino also drove in a run in the inning.

After L&C forced Whitworth to bat in the bottom of the fifth with its four run rally, Cey led off with a double and Lacey Parry doubled her home in consecutive at-bats.

Jessie LaPlante went the distance in the circle for the Bucs, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings. She struck out six and walked two. Nathalie Matson only went 0.2 innings as the starter for L&C, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits. Paige McFeeley pitched the final 3.1 innings.

Whitworth 5, L&C 4 - Box Score

Thomsen drove home two Pirate runs

Whitworth led 5-0 heading to the seventh inning before L&C rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh and had the bases loaded with one out. But Kelsey Ayers came on in relief to get the final two outs and save the win for Whitworth.

Morgan Thomsen singled home a run in the top of the first when her line drive up the middle struck L&C's starting pitcher (McFeeley) in the face and went to right field. McFeeley had to leave the game and went to emergency for 10 stitches over her left eye.

LaPlante, playing right field, drove home a run in the second on a sacrifice fly and Cey drove home another run when her groundball to short went for an error. Whitworth added a single run in the fourth on a single by Parry and one more in the sixth on a single by Thomsen.

Jamie Moon started the L&C rally in the seventh with a two-run single. Laura Parker singled home two more to pull the Pioneers within one run. Ayers, who had relieved starting pitcher Jessica Mangis, got Matson (who had releived McFeeley) to ground back to the circle and Ayers threw home for a fielder's choice and two outs. Ayers struck out Jessica Mullins to end the game.

Mangis allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits to get the win to improve to 4-4 this season while Ayers earned the first save of the year for the Bucs. McFeeley was credited with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the first. Matson pitched 5.1 innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits.

The teams will complete the four game series on Sunday with another doubleheader at Marks Field, beginning at noon. Prior to the games five Whitworth seniors will be recognized for their accomplishments in the Pirate program.