With bumps and bruises already in this early season, Peninsula’s Pirates are taking some lumps on the softball diamond.

Despite a depleted roster, P.C. battled Everett close in a 4-2 loss on April 10.

Dena Houser had a solo home run, Carly Swingle drove in a run and Colleen Murphy-Carey added a double.

Swingle went all six innings, striking out three Everett batters.

Everett took game two, 10-1. Peninsula’s Michelle Senf was 2-for-2, Murphy-Carey scored the lone Pirate run and Heather Carlson added an RBI.

They "played very competitive with one of the top teams in the league," Pirate assistant coach Joel Lewis said, noting that her team was plagued with injuries throughout the second game.

The Pirates host Edmonds on April 20 and Bellevue on April 23 before traveling to Shoreline on April 24.

Rangers rip Pirate pitchers for sweep

With top starter Swingle out with an injury, the short-handed Pirates found the Olympic Rangers too tough to handle on the diamond last week.

Olympic swept Peninsula 11-3 and 23-5 in an April 9 conference match-up.

Houser went 3-for-3 with a triple in the opener while Molly Fletcher added a double and Laura Campbell and Madigan Winters each had hits.

In the nightcap, third baseman Emily Garner pitched for P.C. and took the loss in place of the injured Swingle. Houser ripped a home run and drove in two, Fletcher was 2-for-3, Campbell had three hits and Murphy-Carey added a two-RBI triple.

Pirates, Cardinals split opener

Call it an uneasy opening day.

Peninsula’s Pirates rebounded from some shaky fielding in both of their games to earn a split in a doubleheader against Skagit Valley on April 7.

After dropping the opener 7-2, Peninsula came back to top the visiting Cardinals 10-9 in 10 innings, getting a two-run double from Houser to win it.

Peninsula led 8-6 with two outs in the seventh when Swingle relieved starter Shana Butcher and gave up an RBI triple. An infield error followed, allowing Skagit to tie the game at 8-8.

With the tiebreaker rule in effect to start the 10th inning – teams get a runner on second base to start the inning – Skagit Valley took a 9-8 lead.

But Peninsula’s Cimone Trout got on base thanks to a Cardinal error, Swingle reached on a fielder’s choice and Houser followed with a hit deep to left center, plating Trout and Emily Garner for the win.

P.C.’s Marquita Espinoza was 3-for-6 with a two-run home run and Senf added a pair of hits, including a single that hit the fence and nearly left the yard.

In the opener, Peninsula took a 2-1 lead thanks to a run-scoring double by Murphy-Carey, but nine Pirate errors led to a 7-2 defeat.

Campbell went 2-for-4 with a double.

Swingle took the loss despite giving up just four hits in seven innings.

The Pirates (1-1, 2-5) travel to Olympic on Friday.

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.

NWAACC North standings

(as of April 11)

Team Conf. Over.

Shoreline 5-1 10-8

Bellevue 4-2 14-5

Olympic 3-1 5-6

Everett 2-2 6-12

Skagit Vly. 1-1 1-1

Peninsula 1-3 2-7

Edmonds 0-4 0-12