NEWBERG, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran broke out the bats in a big way on Saturday, collecting 23 runs on 31 hits in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader sweep of the host George Fox Bruins.

The Lutes broke away from a 1-1 tie, scoring 10 runs over the final three innings in taking the opener, 11-1, and they bashed 17 hits and scored seven runs in the final two innings of a 12-3 win in the second contest.

Knotted 1-1 through four innings of the first game, PLU scored twice in the fifth inning to get some breathing room, and the runs came with two outs. Stacey Hagensen started the rally with a single and she came in on Kaaren Hatlen's pinch-hit double. Lauren Watson followed with another run-scoring double.

The Lutes added three runs in the sixth. Brittney Weissenbuehler, Monti Califano and Amber Roberts put together consecutive one-out singles, and Caitlin Brown drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Aubree Pocklington delivered a two-run double to make it 6-0.

A five-run seventh inning was highlighted by Ramona Lorton's RBI double, a run-scoring single by Califano and a two-run homer by Hagensen.

Lorton earned the pitching win, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out six and walking none. Hagensen collected three hits and both Brown and Califano had two to lead the PLU offense.

Hagensen was the winning pitcher in the second game and for the fourth straight game had three hits.

The Lutes took a 5-2 lead after five innings before scoring four in the sixth and three more in the seventh. Brown had three hits, scored three runs and drove in four during the second game, and Beth Haahr had a career-high three hits. Roberts and Hatlen both had a pair of hits for Pacific Lutheran and Hatlen and Hagensen both drove in a pair.

Hagensen allowed two runs on eight hits in five innings, and Jackie Martinez finished the job, giving up a run on two hits while fanning four in the last two innings.

Pacific Lutheran is now 8-3 overall and 6-0 in the conference and takes on winless Lewis & Clark in another conference doubleheader at noon on Sunday. With Saturday's two losses, George Fox falls to 3-9 overall and 0-6 in the conference.

- PLU -