SALEM, Ore. – Whitworth University was blown away in the opener, then let one get away in the nightcap of a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Willamette University. The Bearcats won the first game 17-3 in five innings, then came from behind to win the second game 6-4. Willamette improves to 22-6 overall, 16-4 in the NWC, while Whitworth falls to 13-18, 10-9.

Willamette 17, Whitworth 3 (5 innings) - Box Score

Anderson hit her third home run of the year

Willamette rolled to the win by scoring three in the first, then five more in the second inning. They topped that by posting nine runs in the third to lead 17-0 before the Pirates got on the board. The Bearcats hit three home runs in the game, while the Pirates were limited to only three hits.

Rachel Anderson hit her third home run of the season to account for two of the Pirates' three runs.

Jessie LaPlante (7-9) was the starting pitcher for the Pirates and gave up eight runs (seven earned) on six hits with three walks and a strikeout in one official inning. She faced the first five batters in the second inning.

Willamette 6, Whitworth 4 - Box Score

Ball drove in two runs for the Pirates in game 2

Whitworth led 3-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Willamette rallied for five runs on the way to a 6-4 victory.

Lacey Kerr doubled home Whitworth's first run in the top of the first, then Anderson scored on Amber Fowler's sacrifice fly in the second inning. Josie Ball doubled home a run in the third to make it 3-1.

Meanwhile, Willamette failed to make headway against LaPlante through five innings, scoring one run on four hits. But the Bearcats broke through with five runs in the sixth, only three of which were earned, on three hits and an error.

Whitworth got one back in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Ball, but could not finish the rally with the tying runs on base.

Kerr, Ball and Lacey Parry each finished with a pair of hits and Parry scored two runs. LaPlante's record fell to 7-11 as she went all six innings and gave up six runs (three earned) on seven hits.

Whitworth and Willamette will complete the series on Sunday with another scheduled doubleheader.