Area roundup: Whitworth completes Northwest Conference softball regular season with home sweep of Willamette

Kelsey Downey hit a grand slam in the fourth inning Tuesday and Whitworth defeated visiting Willamette 13-5 in five innings in the opener of a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader sweep.

Ashley Trueblood (7-6) allowed four hits and two earned runs in five innings, and Sara Gayer had four runs batted in to guide the Pirates’ five-inning, 10-2 win in the second game.

The Bearcats (5-28, 5-21) led the opener 2-0, but Gayer highlighted a seven-run second with a three-run double.

The doubleheader was originally scheduled on March 24 but postponed by poor weather.

The Pirates (24-16, 17-11) finished league play in third place. They’ll open the NWC Tournament in Newberg, Oregon, at 2:30 p.m. Friday against second-seeded Linfield (31-8).