PARKLAND – A five-run fourth inning rally in game one secured the 7-5 Pacific Lutheran victory against fifth-ranked Linfield. The Lutes dropped the second game 5-2 to split Sunday's doubleheader with the Wildcats.
With the results, PLU is now 5-9 in conference play, 8-18 overall. Linfield improved to 16-2 NWC, 22-6 overall.
Trailing 2-1 in game one, the Lutes' responded with a five-run rally in the fourth inning to take the 6-2 lead over Linfield. With two-outs and the bases loaded, Emily McConnell singled through the left side to score the tying run. Spencer Sherwin followed with a huge, bases clearing double to pull ahead 5-2. Following a walk to Kailyn Osaki, Lindsey Matsunaga would reach on a fielder's choice to score an additional insurance run.
Linfield added two runs in the sixth and an additional run in seventh on an Ashley Garcia solo homerun. Kelsey Robinson pitched relief for starter Leah Butters, collecting the final three outs to earn her first save of the season. Butters collected her fourth win, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits and two walks.
Linfield's starter Karina Paavola took the loss, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing six runs, five earned, on seven hits and three walks.
In the second game, clutch pitching and defensive plays kept it to a low scoring contest. PLU would strand 12 Linfield runners while the Lutes left 10 on base. The Wildcats led things off with a first-inning, two-out solo home run by Katy Brosig only for PLU to respond with its own solo shot off Sherwin's bat. Linfield scored the go-ahead run in the second inning on a bases loaded walk to take the 2-1 lead.
The Wildcats threatened again in the fifth, loading the bases with two-outs, but the Lutes were able to escape the inning with no damage done. In the home half of the fifth, Robinson helped her own cause with an RBI ground out to tie it up at two apiece. However, Linfield finally broke through with a three-run seventh inning to secure the 5-2 victory.
PLU returns to the field on Monday afternoon, hosting the Willamette Bearcats in a doubleheader that begins at 2:00 p.m.
