NEWBERG, Ore. – PLU softball opened Northwest Conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader on the road. The Lutes fell twice to George Fox, narrowly dropping the first game 3-1 and falling to the Bruins 15-5 in five innings in the afternoon matchup.
In the early game, PLU took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Thalen Masada, scoring Sydney Smythe from third. Smythe led off the inning with a double, advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kailyn Osaki.
Marissa Miller tossed five scoreless frames, allowing the Lutes to maintain their lead into the sixth. With two runners on, the Bruins capitalized on a passed ball to score a runner to tie the game. Two more Bruins would cross the plate in the bottom of the sixth to take the 3-1 lead. A quick 1-2-3 top of the seventh closed out the game.
Miller tossed a complete game, allowing nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts. She was credited with the loss. Abbie Bergerson earned the win for the Bruins.
In the afternoon matchup, the Lutes took an early 1-0 lead off an error by George Fox. The Bruins quickly retaliated in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run off the bat of Kayla Anderson to tie the game at one apiece.
Smythe led off the third inning with a double followed by a Bruins' error that allowed Osaki to reach first and advance Smythe to third. This brought sophomore Jessica Wallace to the plate to hit the first home run of her PLU career. A single by Amanda Hartley later in the inning would give the Lutes a 5-1 lead. Hartley had the only multi-hit outing for PLU, finishing 2-for-3 with a double.
The Bruins offense broke the game open in the bottom of the second, combining for six hits, including two home runs, to score a total of seven runs and take the 8-5 advantage.
Both offenses were quiet through the third inning and into the fourth before George Fox put up another six hit, seven run inning to bring its run total to 15. With the Lutes unable to retaliate in the top of the fifth, the Bruins took the 15-5 victory to complete the sweep.
Leah Butters recorded the loss, tossing 1.1 innings and allowing seven runs on five hits. Kat Enyeart pitched 2.2 innings of relief, surrendering eight runs on nine hits and three walks. Bruins' Madison Sorensen was credited with the win.
With the losses, PLU is now 1-5, 0-2 in conference play. George Fox advanced to 6-2, 2-0 NWC.
Pacific Lutheran will continue conference play on Sunday at Pacific (Ore.). The first game of the doubleheader will start at 12 p.m. at Sherman/Larkins Stadium.
