PASCO, Wash. - (From Blake Timm, Pacific SID) For the second straight day, Whitworth capitalized on a pair of big innings to take a doubleheader from Pacific Sunday in Northwest Conference softball action at the Trade Recreation Agriculture Complex, sweeping the four game series against the Boxers.

The Pirates (7-0, 4-0 NWC) erased a 4-2 Pacific lead in the opener with a four-run seventh to take a 6-5 victory. In the nightcap, Whitworth blew the game open with a five-run second and built insurance in a three-run seventh to secure an 8-4 victory.

Lacey Kerr led the way for Whitworth offensively, going 2 for 3 in the opener, including a double that sparked their four-run seventh, and finished 3 for 5 on the afternoon with three RBIs. Kristin Larkins led Pacific (0-4, 0-4 NWC) with a 3 for 4 performance in the opener and finished 5 for 8 on the day.

Game 1: Whitworth 6, Pacific 5 - Box score
In the opener, it appeared early that it would be Pacific’s day after dropping a doubleheader to the Pirates on Saturday. Larkins opened scoring in the first with a rolling single to right that scored Kristen Croxford and Kelly Nishitomi. Caitlin Mastenbroek added two more in the second with a single to right that plated Croxford and Kim Whittaker.

Whitworth scored their first run in the second, and then Lindsay Davis halved the score in the fifth with a solo home run to straight away center field. The Pirates scored all the runs in the seventh two outs.
After loading the bases to open the frame, Pacific pitcher Andrea Bansen coaxed the next two batters into outs. Hailey Cey then drew a bases loaded walk that scored Kerr, and Lacey Parry followed with a bases clearing double that put the Pirates up 6-4.

Pacific managed to load the bases with one out in the home half of the seventh, but could only score one on a sacrifice fly to left by Alicia Hawes.

Jessie LaPlante earned the win for Whitworth, improving to 4-0 on the season by allowing five runs, three earned, on 11 hits with five strikeouts. Bansen took the loss in her first start of the year, allowing six runs, five earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts.

Game 2: Whitworth 8, Pacific 4 - Box score
Pacific opened the second game by scoring two runs in the first inning again, this time using a bases loaded walk to Brooke Fogwell and a fielder’s choice by Larkins to build the 2-0 advantage. Whitworth, however, wasted no time in taking back five runs in the second. Cey tied the game with a double that scored Amber Fowler, and Heather Case gave the Pirates the lead with her RBI single to center. Morgan Thomsen capped the frame with a triple to right that plated two and lifted Whitworth to a 5-2 lead.

The Boxers came back to within striking distance in the fifth, reducing the lead to 5-4 on a RBI single from Brittany Cuff and a double by Larkins. The Pirates, however, removed any threat of a Pacific comeback with a three-run seventh on RBI hits from Kerr and Cey and a wild pitch that allowed Cey to score.

Jennifer Eckhoff earned her first victory of the year for the Pirates, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits and four walks and struck out three in 4.2 innings. LaPlante earned the save, entering the game with the tying run at the plate in the fifth. She finished by allowing one hit in the final 2.1 innings. Miranda McNealy took her second loss in as many days, allowing eight runs, four earned, on 12 hits and struck out four.

Next Week: Whitworth is scheduled to play Pacific Lutheran in a four-game Northwest Conference series next weekend at Diana Marks Field. They are the Pirates' first scheduled home games of 2007. PLU (6-0, 4-0 NWC) won a pair of games each against George Fox and Lewis & Clark. The series will be an early-season match up of two of the remaining three unbeatens in the NWC. The doubleheaders each day are scheduled to begin at Noon.