From Kelsey Bumgarner, Whitworth Sports Information Intern

PASCO, Wash. - On a gusty day in Pasco, Washington, no lead was safe in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader between Whitworth and Pacific Lutheran. Whitworth won the opener 8-4 and PLU came back to win the nightcap in eight innings 11-7. Whitworth is now 3-9 overall, 2-6 in the NWC and PLU is 7-9, 6-4.

Wind gusts hit over 40 miles per hour throughout the day, making any ball hit in the air an adventure for fielders.

Game 1: Whitworth 8, PLU 4 - box score and play by play
Kelsey Ayers won her first pitching victory of the season while Sami Parr went 3-3 with two RBI to lead the Pirates came back from an early 3-0 deficit.

The Lutes took their lead with a single run in the first inning and two in the second. Leadoff hitter Missy Waldron scored two runs and drove in a run in the top two frames.

Whitworth grabbed the lead with a four-run fourth inning. Rachel Kerr and Ashley Carey had back-to-back doubles to send Kerr home. Later, Rachel Anderson singled to advance Caty Lieseke and Carey scored.

Lieseke added an RBI single in the fifth for the Pirates and Mandee Edwards’ two-run homer highlighted the three-run sixth inning.

PLU gained one back in the seventh inning. Caitlin Brown tripled and Jordan Liebe singled but Ayers (1-5) closed the door to pick up her first win of the season.

Stacey Hagensen (4-4) suffered the loss for the Lutes. Liebe was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Game 2: PLU 11, Whitworth 7 (8 inn.) - box score and play by play
PLU came back from 4-0 and 7-4 deficits to pick up the win and split the series. Rachel Wheeler pitched four hitless innings of relief to gain the win.

Whitworth scored two runs in each of the first two innings to grab an early 4-0 lead. Lieseke doubled in the first to send two runners home while Kerr and Carey both had RBIs in the second inning.

Amber Roberts singled and stole second to set up the first scoring opportunity for the Lutes. Brown doubled home a run and came around to score to highlight a three-run third inning.

PLU tied the game in the top of the fourth before the Pirates went back up 7-4 in the bottom of the frame. Lieseke had a two-run single in the inning.

PLU tied it up again over the next two innings. In the sixth inning Roberts tripled, rounded third and scored when Whitworth catcher Rachel Anderson couldn't hold onto the ball at the plate. Wheeler’s RBI single to center field tied the game in the top of the sixth.

Meanwhile, Wheeler (1-4) held the Pirates scoreless over the final four innings, allowing the Lutes to gain the lead. Wheeler singled home the eventual winning run with two outs in the top of the eighth. Later in the inning Brit Weissenbuehl added a bases-clearing double for insurance.

Jessica Mangis dropped to 2-4 pitching. Lieseke went 3 for 4 at the plate with four RBIs.

Liebe had another big game for PLU, going 4 for 4 with two runs batted in. Weissenbuehl finished with four RBIs.