PORTLAND | Five senior Warner Pacific University Softball team (6-33, 4-23) student-athletes took the field at Erv Lind Stadium one final time together in front of their family and friends, celebrating their storied careers at WPU by finishing game two from yesterday's suspended contest against the University of Providence Argos (4-31, 3-23), then completing the conference series in a game three finale, dropping both contest 7-10, and 4-9.
 
Due to field availability and transportation, the non-conference contest between the Knights and Argos was cancelled to avoid schedule conflicts with the Argos' transportation and Erv Lind Stadium.
 
Friday Doubleheader Game 2 (Continued from April 22^nd)
 
Picking up in the sixth inning of their second conference game, with two outs and a runner on third base, Argos' second baseman Ryen Palmer finished the longest at-bat of the season for any Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) hitter, collecting a hit and an RBI nearly 19 hours since beginning the at-bat Friday afternoon, stretching the Argos' lead to 10-7 after a five-run sixth inning.
 
Warner Pacific loaded the bases once again in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings of the elongated game two against Providence, but couldn't plate anyone to make this contest tighter than it already was, as the Argos went on to win 10-7 and even the conference series with the Knights.
 
Knights' sophomore starting pitcher Sammie Brauckmiller completed 5.0 innings of work to earn the no-decision, allowing five runs on nine hits, and striking out one Argo. Sophomore relief pitcher Abby Carlson (4-17) completed the game by going 2.0 innings on the afternoon with five runs allowed, seven hits, and a single walk and strikeout.
 
In her best offensive showing of the season, Warner Pacific sophomore catcher Morgan Docker collected three hits in five at-bats, scoring a run and plating two RBIs for the Knights. Senior centerfielder Paityn Willloughby and sophomore shortstop Faith Vadelund each went 2-for-3 at the plate, each scoring a run while Vadelund earned an RBI.
 
Providence starting pitcher McKenna Montgomery (1-8) went the distance by pitching 7.0 innings across a two-day span, allowing seven runs on 10 hits, striking out one and walking 10 batters.
 
Centerfielder Karlie David came through in the clutch moments for the Argos in game two, collecting two hits and four RBIs with the bat in her hands, while crossing the plate for two runs of her own. Three different Argos earned three hits in five at-bats, highlighted by catcher McKenzie Staats' 3-for-5 performance with an RBI and two runs scored.
 
Saturday Doubleheader Game 1
 
The majority of Providence's runs in the second game were scored in the first innings once again, plating six runs in total through half an inning of play, only four of which crossed the plate earned.
 
The Argos tacked on two more runs in the top of the second on a two-run homer from first baseman Macy Mangold, going opposite field over the left-centerfield fence to stretch the Providence lead to 8-0.
 
Warner Pacific threatened on the bases inning after inning, yet plated their first runs of the afternoon in the top of the third inning when three runs crossed the plate unearned, two of which came on a deep double to left field from the bat of Brauckmiller, cutting the deficit to 3-8.
 
Another run crossed the plate for the Knights in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Carlson reached first base on a single to right field, scoring senior designated player Payton Hergert before a runner was cut down at third base.
 
Providence scored one more run in the top of the sixth inning to seal this victory away, as Staats singled down the left field line to score rightfielder Taylor Mathews from third base, and clinching the first conference series for the Argos of the season.
 
Warner Pacific senior starting pitcher Marissa Bradshaw (0-2) went 1.0 innings this afternoon, allowing seven runs on seven hits. Carlson came in out of the bullpen once again to throw 6.0 innings, allowing two runs off seven more hits from Providence.
 
Willoughby and fellow seniors, second baseman Alexis Morrow and first baseman Emma Foster, all collected two hits in their final home games, while Hergert scored two runs to finish the home slate of the 2022 regular season.
 
Argos' starting pitcher Jaden Williams (1-5) earned her first win of the season by going 3.0 innings and allowing three runs on six hits while walking two batters. Relief pitcher Carter Thornton finished the game with 4.0 innings of work for the Argos, giving up a single run and five hits, while striking out one WPU hitter.
 
Mathews and Staats each dominated at the plate in the third conference game played this weekend, with six hits, four runs, and an RBI between the two of them to lead Providence to victory. Mangold's home run in the second inning earned her two RBIs and a run scored en route to a 2-for-4 performance.
 
Warner Pacific Softball will complete the 2022 regular season next week the final weekend of CCC play at the University of British Columbia, with the Friday doubleheaders scheduled for 1:30pm and 3:30pm PDT.