PARKLAND – Pacific Lutheran softball split Monday's doubleheader against Willamette, dropping the early game 5-2 but taking the nightcap 14-5 in five innings. PLU is now 9-19 overall, 6-10 in Northwest Conference play while Willamette owns a 14-12 overall record, 10-6 NWC.
In the first game, with the Lutes trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third with one runner on, Lindsey Matsunaga belted one over the center field wall to tie it up at two apiece. However, Willamette quickly regained the lead in the top of the fourth off a solo shot by designated player Victoria Bradshaw. The Bearcats would add two more insurance runs in the sixth to secure their 5-2 victory. Relief pitcher Kelsey Robinson recorded the loss while Willamette's starter Jade Smith collected her ninth win of the season.
The second game proved to be quite productive for the Lutes at the plate as their offense combined to score a total of 14 runs on 14 hits and three walks. PLU took an early 3-0 lead with Spencer Sherwin's three-RBI triple that capitalized on a hit batter and Willamette fielding error from earlier in the inning. But Willamette answered back loudly in the third, rallying for five runs on six hits to take the lead 5-3.
With plenty of game left to play, PLU's offense came to life in the fourth inning, putting up seven runs on five hits and two Bearcat errors. A two-run double by Kailyn Osaki would tie things up 5-5 followed by a Matsunaga RBI-single to score the go-ahead run. The Lutes continued their rally, eventually leaving the inning with a 10-5 advantage. Willamette scored one in the fifth to decrease its deficit to four, but a loud fifth inning for the Lutes would bring their lead to eight runs, ending the game in the bottom of the fifth due to the run rule. Leah Butters collected her fifth win of the season while Bearcats' starter Bradshaw collected her fourth loss.
In the late game, Katie Lowery went 2-for-4 with three RBI while Osaki and Tori Hamura each had two-hit games with two runs batted in.
PLU heads back out on the road this weekend, making its first stop at Linfield for a neutral site makeup contest against George Fox at 7 p.m. This matchup takes the place of the postponed February 23rd game. The Lutes will continue with a doubleheader at George Fox on Saturday and a doubleheader at Pacific on Sunday. Both are set for a 12:00 p.m. first pitch.
