PARKLAND - Stacey Hagensen drilled a home run in each game, threw a complete-game two-hitter to win the opener, and then came back to nail down the save in the nightcap as Pacific Lutheran swept visiting Willamette, 8-3 and 9-6, in Northwest Conference softball action on Saturday at the PLU field.

The Lutes improved to 3-3 overall in sweeping their first two conference games of the season. Willamette is now 2-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Game One: PLU 8, Willamette 3

Hagensen got the Lutes off to a good start in the first game with a solo homer in the first inning, but Willamette scored single tallies in the third and fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Nichole Robertson blasted her first home run of the season in the third inning, and Mica Romero walked, moved up a base on a sacrifice, stole third, and then scored on Susie Krewer's sacrifice fly.

PLU took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth, and it added four more in the fifth to break the game open.

With one out in the fourth, Glenelle Nitta, Lindsey Matsunaga and Montessa Califano had consecutive singles to load the bases. Amanda Goings was hit by a pitch to score the first run, and Kaely Cuthill followed with a base hit to drive in Matsunaga. Hagensen drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.

The Lutes took advantage of four hits and an error to score four times, all with two outs, in the fifth inning. Lauren Watson drew a walk, and Nitta, Matsunaga and Califano repeated their three-straight-singles routine, with the latter two getting RBIs. Goings reached on an error, loading the bases, and Cuthill followed with a two-run single.

Willamette's final run came in the sixth when Sierra Lessel was hit by a pitch, stole second and eventually scored on a ground out.

Hagensen improved her pitching record to 2-1 by allowing three runs, all earned, on only two hits while walking one and striking out four. Alex Watilo took the loss, giving up six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, and is now 2-1 for the season.

Game Two: PLU 9, Willamette 6

After collecting 10 hits in the opener, the Lutes came back with 11 more safeties in the second game.

The Bearcats sandwiched a pair of one-run innings around a PLU two-run first inning. Willamette started the scoring when Jessica Barry reached on a single, stole second and third, and then scored on Romero's base hit. In the second, Emily Bray and Bri Compton had singles, moved up a base on a passed ball, and Bray came in on Allison Martin's ground out.

PLU scored twice in the bottom of the first when Califano led off with a single, stole second, and then scored on Cuthill's double. Cuthill then came in on Kaaren Hatlen's base hit.

The Lutes tallied a run in the third inning on Katie Lowery's base hit, and then busted loose with four runs in the fourth inning. Nitta led off with a single, Matsunaga followed with a double, and then Ami Gran had a base hit to score Nitta. After Kaely Cuthill reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, Hagensen ripped a single over the third base bag to drive in a pair of runs. After another single by Hatlen loaded the bases, Lowery hit a sacrifice fly to make it 7-2.

After starting pitcher Hatlen allowed a leadoff triple to Lessel in the fifth, Ally VanSchoorl celebrated her birthday by entering the pitcher's circle and recording three straight outs while leaving Lessel stranded at third.

The hosts added two runs in the sixth, and they came in impressive fashion. Cuthill launched her first collegiate home run over the fence in right-centerfield, and Hagensen followed one pitch later with her second homer of the day, almost exactly to the same spot as Cuthill's blast.

Trailing 9-2 in the top of the seventh, Willamette made the most of two hits, two hit batters, two wild pitches, a walk and a stolen base to score four times. With four runs in and a runner on first, Hagensen became PLU's fourth pitcher of the game and the third in the seventh inning. She promptly closed the game for her first save of the season.

Willamette had 11 hits in the game, including three by Lessel and two each by Romero and Bray. Romero finished the day going 3-for-6 with two RBI. Compton took the pitching loss, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

PLU had plenty of hitting stars in the doubleheader: Cuthill was 2-for-4 with three RBI in the opener and 2-for-3 with two RBI and four runs scored in the nightcap; Hagensen was 3-for-6 with five RBI in the two games; Nitta and Matsunaga were both 3-for-6 with two runs scored in the two games; and Califano was 3-for-7 with three runs scored.

The two teams conclude their four-game conference series with a Sunday doubleheader starting at noon.

- PLU -