SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University finally got to play a softball game in the friendly environment of Marks Field. But the Pirates and visiting University of Puget Sound had to wait until 4:20 p.m. to do so and Whitworth came from behind to defeat the Loggers 11-6 in a Northwest Conference contest on Saturday evening. The teams will complete the NWC series with a triple header on Sunday, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Ayers earned the win and hit a home run

Whitworth 11, UPS 6 - Box Score

Puget Sound (8-14 overall, 4-7 NWC) went ahead 6-0 in the top of the fourth inning, but Whitworth (9-16, 6-7) rallied for 11 runs, including eight in the sixth, to overcome the Loggers.

UPS jumped on Whitworth starting pitcher Jessie LaPlante for three runs in the top of the first inning. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases for Valerie Barone, who sent a long single to left field to drive in two runs. Meghan Watson drove home the final run with a ground out to second base.

The Loggers picked up two more runs in the third on RBI singles by Kelsey Scanlan and Noelle Vallecorsa. The final UPS run came in the fourth when Victoria Raeburn singled up the middle to drive in a run and force LaPlante out of the game.

Kelsey Ayers came on in relief for Whitworth and allowed no runs and two hits over the final 3.2 innings of the game. She struck out four and walked two.

Rachel Anderson singled home a run in the bottom of the fourth to get the Pirates on the board. Lacey Parry, who opened the bottom of the fifth with a bunt single, scored when a long fly ball to left field was dropped. Anderson added a sacrifice fly in the inning to pull the Pirates within 6-3.

The game got away from UPS in the bottom of the sixth when the Pirates scored all eight of their runs with two outs. Lacey Kerr singled home the first two runs to pull Whitworth within 6-5. Andi Doerflinger came on to pitch for UPS and walked the next three batters, driving home the tying run. Then Amber Fowler grounded back to the pitcher, but Doerflinger's throw to first was too high, allowing two more runs to score. Ayers finished the inning with her first career home run, a three-run shot to center field, to complete the scoring.

Ayers improved her pitching record to 1-3 this season. Doerflinger took the loss for UPS to fall to 2-3. Auriel Sperberg started the game and allowed one run on six hits through four innings for the Loggers. Lindsey Janes pitched 1.2 innings of relief.

Raeburn and Watson finished with two hits each for UPS, while Barone drove in a pair of runs. Kerr finished with three hits for the Pirates, along with two RBI. Anderson and Ayers had three RBI each.