PARKLAND - Stacey Hagensen and Kaaren Hatlen hurled complete game victories on Friday afternoon as Pacific Lutheran swept Lewis & Clark, 10-1 and 6-4, in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader played at the PLU field.
Hagensen, a junior right-hander from Bellevue, improved her season record to 4-1, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out five in PLU's five-inning first game victory. Hatlen, a sophomore left-hander from Woodinville, gave up a first inning grand slam, but after that slammed the door on the Pioneers (2-8 overall, 0-4 NWC). In improving her season record to 2-1 while pitching her first complete game as a collegian, Hatlen gave up four hits and one walk while striking out four.
The Lutes (6-4, overall, 5-1 NWC) scored five runs in the first inning and two more in the second to cruise to the opening-game victory. Amanda Goings led off with a single, and after she was forced out, Hagensen drilled a triple to right centerfield for the first run. After Hatlen was hit by a pitch, Hagensen scored on Katie Lowery's ground out. A throwing error accounted for the third run, and the fourth came in on Lindsey Matsunaga's base hit. After singles by Montessa Califano and Ami Gran loaded the sacks, a wild pitch accounted for the fifth run.
One inning later, Hagensen led off with a walk and flew home on Hatlen's double, and the next run scored on a throwing error.
Lewis & Clark scored its only run of the first game in the fourth on two PLU errors and a fielder's choice ground out.
The Lutes scored three times in the fourth inning to win by the eight-run rule. After consecutive singles by Lowery and Nitta, they scored when Matsunaga hit a triple to right centerfield, and she came in on Haley Harshaw's ground out.
PLU finished the game with 12 hits, including two each by Goings, Hatlen and Matsunaga, and the latter had three runs batted in.
Lewis & Clark scored all four of its second-game runs in the first inning. With one out, Caitlin Basilio, Caroline DeVincenzi and Caitlin Relyea hit consecutive singles to load the bases, and Jet'aime Mullins promptly cleared them with a grand slam blast over the fence in center field. Michaela Satter hit another single off Hatlen, but the PLU pitcher got a break when Lowery threw out Satter attempting to steal second base.
That seemed to help settle down Hatlen, and she allowed just two more hits - a double by DeVincenzi and a single by Mullins - the rest of the way. In fact, Hatlen retired the Pioneers in order in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
Meanwhile, Lewis & Clark pitcher Natalie Rose was holding onto her team's lead, though the Lutes showed signs of breaking through. The hosts scored twice in the second, the first when Matsunaga doubled to drive in Nitta, who was hit by a pitch, and the second when Califano hit a single to score Matsunaga.
The Lutes pulled to within a run in the fourth inning when Gran's single drove in Lowery, who had walked, and they finally took the lead for keeps with a trio of two-out runs in the fifth inning. Goings led off with a single, stole second for the second time during the day, and then scored when Hatlen blistered a triple to the gap in right centerfield. Lowery followed with a run-scoring single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and then spiked the plate on Nitta's single.
PLU had eight hits in the game, including a second consecutive two-hit effort from Goings. DeVincenzi and Mullins both had a pair of hits for the Pioneers, who collected seven during the game.
The Lutes continue Northwest Conference play with a pair of weekend doubleheaders. They host seven-time defending NWC champion Linfield at noon on Saturday, and then greet Pacific at noon on Sunday.
- PLU -
