FOREST GROVE, Ore. – With a one-run advantage in both contests on Sunday, PLU Softball completed the sweep of Pacific to earn its first Northwest Conference victories of the season. PLU topped the Boxers 7-6 in first game and followed with a 4-3 victory in the afternoon matchup.
The Lutes improved their overall record to 3-5 with a 2-2 conference stat while the Boxers are now 9-5 overall, 2-2 in conference play.
In the early game, the Boxers scored three in the first inning on two hits and one error. The Lutes went to work over the next three innings to chip away at that lead, beginning with an error in the second that allowed Alison Behrends to cross the plate for PLU. The Lutes evened things up in the third inning on an RBI-double by Tori Hamura and a single by Amanda Hartley to bring Hamura home.
Pacific worked in the bottom of the third to regain the lead on a three-hit, three-run performance, which included a home run off the bat of Boxers' Margaret Bachmeier. Pacific finished the inning leading 6-3.
A four-run fourth inning for the Lutes would give PLU the final advantage as they scored on four hits and one error to edge the Boxers 7-6. Leah Butters tossed six innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits and two walks. Marissa Miller pitched the seventh to earn the save.
Offenses remained quiet in the second game until the top of the third when a triple by Thalen Masada scored Wallace from first. The Lutes added two more runs in the sixth off a Crysti Snyder home run, the first of her college career. A sacrifice bunt by Kailyn Osaki extended the Lute lead to four runs.
The Boxers threatened in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two on Reichard's second home run of the day and a Kiera Melton RBI-single. With runners on first and second, a ground out advanced the Boxers an additional 60 feet before a line out to left field put an end to the game and completed the sweep for PLU.
Miller tossed a complete game for the Lutes, surrendering six hits and five walks with three strikeouts to earn her first victory of the season.
PLU softball will continue conference play on the road next weekend, traveling to eastern Washington to matchup with Whitworth. The Lutes will play two doubleheaders against the Pirates, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. First pitch for the first game is set for 12 p.m.
