SPOKANE, Wash. - Jessica Mangis pitched a complete-game one-hitter to give Whitworth a 1-0 win over seventh-ranked Willamette, enabling the Pirates to split a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader with the visiting Bearcats. Willamette poured it on late to win the opener 13-0.

Jessica Mangis

Whitworth is 15-15 overall and 11-9 in the NWC. Willamette is 26-3, 19-3 and remains two games behind top-ranked Linfield in the conference standings.

Game 1: Willamette 13, Whitworth 0 - box score and play by play
Nicki Franchi pitched a three-hit shutout and the Bearcats tallied ten total runs in the final two innings to run away from the Pirates.

Franchi, the 2008 NWC Player of the Year, improved to 14-1 this season by allowing only three hits while striking out 10 batters and walking five. Franchi also doubled home the first Willamette run in the top of the first inning.

Marissa Richards hit a two-run homer to center field in the top of the third, then added another two-run blast in the top of the seventh for the final runs of the game.

Leading only 3-0 through five, the Bearcats tallied four times in the sixth with Sierra Lessel clearing the bases with a three-run double. Willamette added six more runs in the top of the seventh, two on a double by Suzannah Von Trap, two on a single by Lessel and two on Richards' second homer of the game.

Lessel had three hits, drove in five runs and scored twice to lead the Bearcats. Richards had four RBIs and scored three times.

Mandee Edwards had a lead off double for Whitworth in the third, but Franchi used two strikeouts to get out of the winning. Whitworth loaded the bases with a walk, single and hit batter with nobody out in the fourth before Franchi worked out of the jam by inducing two pop ups and a strikeout.

Kelsey Ayers pitched all seven innings for the Pirates, allowing 13 earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and six walks. She fell to 5-8 this season.

Caty Lieseke

Game 2: Whitworth 1, Willamette 0 - box score and play by play
Caty Lieseke had two of Whitworth's four hits and scored the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning when she came home from third base on Edwards' single to right-center field. Edwards was out at second trying to stretch the hit.

But that one run was all Mangis (10-7) would need as she struck out six and walked three on a day she was virtually unhittable.

After Richards walked in the top of the first inning with one out, Mangis retired the next 14 Willamette batters in a row.

The Bearcats best chance to score came in the top of the sixth. After a pair of walks and outs the Bearcats had runners on first and second base. Franchi poked Willamette's only hit through the right side, but Whitworth right fielder McKenzie Stuby fired the ball to catcher Rachel Anderson well before Willamette's Cirbi Anthony could reach the plate. Anthony tried to go back to third, but was tagged out by third baseman Carrie Gibson.

Mangis retired the side in order in the seventh.

Alex Watilo was the hard-luck losing pitcher for Willamette. She fell to 12-2 after allowing only one run on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

Whitworth and Willamette will complete the four game series with another doubleheader on Sunday at Marks Field. First pitch is at noon.