Pios drop tough double-header to Whitworth, fall to last place in NWC

The Pioneer softball team fell 9-0 and 2-1 in games at Whitworth last weekend. In the first game, the Pios tallied six hits, but were unable to capitalize on opportunities, stranding seven runners over five innings and losing 9-0.

The Pios best chance to score came in the fourth inning. Sheree Miura (’09) led off the inning with a base hit and was quickly followed up by a Sarah DiSabatino (’08) single down the left field line. Kelly Vega (’10) singled to center to load the bases with just one out, but a strikeout and a lineout to left field followed to leave the bases loaded.

The second game was a tough loss for the Pios. They jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after Jessica Mullins (’10) reached on a fielding error and scored from second on a throwing error by the pitcher.

Meanwhile, Vega dominated the Pirates, stifling their offense through five innings. She took a 1-0 lead and a no-hitter into the sixth inning, when she surrendered a leadoff home run to end the no-hitter and the shutout. Vega regained her form, getting the next two outs, but then gave up two more hits, with the second hit driving in the second Pirate run.

The Pirates took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning. when the Pioneers would have their best chance to take the lead. Once again, thought, the Pioneers failed to capitalize on prime opportunities.

Kim Kittell (’10, Tillamook, Ore.) had a two out hit in the top of the seventh to keep the Pioneers’ hopes alive.
A well-struck ball by Jamie Moon (’11) was run down by the Whitworth outfielder to end the Pioneer threat and the game, with the Pirates walking away with a 2-1 victory. Kelly Vega earned the hard-luck game-two defeat, allowing the two runs on three hits.

She walked one and struck out two. With the loss the Pios dropped to 2-20 in conference play and 2-27 overall. The Pios close out the Northwest Conference portion of their schedule next weekend in Tacoma, taking on Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran.