Whitworth Defeats Bearcats 8-0 in Both Games of Softball Doubleheader

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University pitcher Madelyn Carlson held Willamette University to just two hits in each game, helping the Pirates defeat the Bearcats 8-0 on the run rule in five innings during each half of a doubleheader on Sunday, March 25 at Marks Field. Whitworth improved to 16-8 overall, 9-3 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 3-14 on the season, 3-11 in the NWC.

Jocelyn Glasgo (So., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) of Willamette smacked a double in the first game and pounded out a triple in the second game. Willamette received a single from Breianna Mcleod (Fr., SS/UT, Kailua Kona, HI/West Hawaii Explorations Acad.) in the opener, while Bailey Hillmick (Fr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEween HS) earned a single for the Bearcats in the second game.

In the opener, Whitworth surged out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning on the strength of five hits. Key hits were an RBI double by Chelsey Hayes, a two run double by Michelle Silva and an RBI single by Natalie Edlin. With one out in the second inning, Kinsey McNaught was hit by a pitch, stole second and went to third when Hayes reached base on an error. McNaught scored on a double by Sara Gayer. 

Three runs in the third inning extended the Pirates' margin to 8-0. McNaught drove in one run with a double, while Hayes brought in the other two runs with a single.

Carlson struck out two batters and allowed five walks in the first game. She through 81 pitches to earn the five-inning win.

The Pirates scored three runs in the first inning of he second game. Kaylie Lowery and McNaught started the stanza with back-to-back singles. Lowery went to third on McNaught's single and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Hayes. McNaught eventually scored on a double steal later in the inning. Kelsey Downey added an RBI double.

Whitworth increased its lead to 8-0 with five runs in the second. McNaught belted a two-run double, while Hayes hit an RBI single and Silva connected for an RBI triple. Silva scored when her tripled was misplayed in the outfield.

In the second game, Carlson registered five strikeouts and walked just one batter. She improved her record to 12-3 on the season. Glasgo took the loss for Willamette in the opener and fell to 1-6. Reanna Lancaster (Jr., P, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) suffered the loss in the second game, as her record moved to 1-3.

The Bearcats will play two games at Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) on Tuesday, March 27. First pitch in Claremont, California, is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).