EUGENE, Ore. -  The Bushnell softball team had a bit of a rough start to their 2026 Cascade Collegiate Conference campaign, falling twice to Warner Pacific University.
 
GAME ONE: Warner Pacific 16, Bushnell 3
 
Bushnell's defensive struggles continued on Friday as they committed five errors, leading to ten unearned runs for the Knights.
 
The game had remained close early. After WPU scored a pair in the top of the first, Violet Richardson answered in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer. Her first bomb of the season marked the 15th of her career, moving her into sole possession of fifth on Bushnell's career list.
 
Warner Pacific scored another run in the top of the second, only to be answered by a sacrifice fly for Haleigh Wambolt, making it 3-3. The Knights added two more in the third before blowing the game open with a four-run sixth and seven-run seventh inning.
 
Sara Martin (1-5) took the loss, giving up six earned runs on 19 hits while striking out five batters. Richardson went 2-for-3 in the game with three RBI, adding an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. Brenna Wilson also collected two hits for the Beacons.
 
For the Knights, Kili Makanani (2-3) also went the distance, giving up four earned runs and striking out three. Seven different WPU batters had multiple hits in the game with Noelani Barawis, Ryleah Torres, and Maddy Lahey each collecting three. Brylee Demello went 2-for-4 with four RBI including a three-run triple in the seventh.
 
GAME TWO: Warner Pacific 9, Bushnell 2
 
The Knights took the second game thanks in large part to a six-run sixth inning that broke open what was a 1-1 tie. Sparking that rally was a grand slam from Demello, giving her an eight-RBI day.
 
The Beacons out-hit WPU in the contest 9-8, led by a 2-for-3 performance from Peyton Trickel including a double. Wilson added an RBI single in the fifth and Shyla Mead posted an RBI single in the sixth.
 
Friday saw the season and collegiate debut of freshman pitcher Gabby Garza (0-1), who struck out four batters in six innings of work.
 
Kaylee Pokorny (3-3) got the win for the Knights with a complete game, allowing two earned on nine hits without a strikeout.
 
UP NEXT: Beacons (2-10, 0-2 CCC) and Warner Pacific (5-7, 2-0) will play two more games on Saturday. The final CCC contest will begin at 11:00 am, followed by the non-conference fourth game of the series.