PARKLAND – PLU Softball swept visiting Lewis & Clark on Saturday, earning both victories in the bottom of the seventh. In the first game, the Lutes topped the Pios 6-5 followed by a 3-2 victory in the late afternoon matchup.
The Lutes advanced to 6-6 in Northwest Conference play with a 13-11 overall record. The Pioneers are now 5-9 in conference action, 8-17 overall.
The early game featured a pitcher's duel between Lutes' Marissa Miller and Pios' Madison Hollenbeck. The teams took a 0-0 tie into the sixth inning until a three-hit top of the inning put Lewis & Clark up 2-0. Hollenbeck took a no-hitter into the home half of the sixth before a single by Crysti Snyder ruined her efforts. With runners on first and second in the same inning, Emily McConnell homered to straight away center to shift the game's momentum in the Lutes favor, giving them the 3-2 advantage. The home run was the first of the sophomore's collegiate career.
The Pios didn't take long to spoil PLU's efforts, rallying for three-runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-3 lead. With only three outs to work with, the Lutes capitalized on two walks and four Pioneer errors to rally for three-runs and walk off with the 6-5 victory.
Miller (5-5) earned her fifth win, tossing a complete game and allowing three earned runs on eight hits and one walk. She struck out four. Hollenbeck (3-7) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four. At the plate, Hollenbeck finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. McConnell finished 1-for-4 with four RBI while Makayla Bentz and Samantha Boelter contributed an RBI apiece.
In the second game, the Pioneers struck first, putting a run on the board in the third inning. The Lutes remained quiet until the fifth inning with one out and runners on second and third. Pinch hitter Kelli Crawford reached on an error by the Pios second baseman to tie the game and advance Sydney Smythe to third. With Kailyn Osaki at the plate, Smythe stole home on a wild pitch to put PLU up 2-1. Lewis & Clark once again spoiled the Lute lead in the top of the seventh with a single, a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt that put the tying run in scoring position. A sacrifice fly by Hannah Dal Pra would allow the run to score and even the game 2-2.
PLU wasted no time getting to work in the home half of the seventh with Jessica Wallace singling and advancing to second on the third baseman's throw to get things started. Wallace took third on a wild pitch and ultimately crossed the plate for the Lutes on a walk-off single by Crysti Snyder to finish the game 3-2 in favor of PLU.
Leah Butters (6-5) earned the win, tossing her seventh complete game and surrendering only two runs on nine hits and two walks. She struck out six. Pioneers' pitcher Kalin Rooney (3-7) took the loss, pitching a complete game and allowing two earned runs on seven hits and one walk. She finished with seven strikeouts. Freshman catcher Gracen Malich finished 2-for-2 while Tori Hamura went 2-for-3.
PLU will meet the Pioneers again on Sunday for a doubleheader that will complete the four-game weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for noon at the PLU softball field.
