SPOKANE, Wash. – On Saturday, Pacific Lutheran softball went 0-2 in the first two games of the weekend's four-game set against Whitworth. Despite holding the Bucs to only six hits in the first game, the Lutes were shut out 3-0. PLU held a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning of the second game before a nine-run Whitworth rally ended the game 9-1 in the Pirate's favor.

With the losses, PLU is now 2-4 in Northwest Conference play, 3-7 overall. Whitworth advances to 5-1 NWC, 12-4 overall.

In the early game, Whitworth capitalized on a two-out RBI-triple followed by an RBI-single to put the Pirates up 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning. A sacrifice fly later in the game would add an insurance run for the Bucs. With the Lutes unable to get their offense going against Whitworth's Madi Perez, PLU eventually took the 3-0 loss.

Leah Butters pitched a complete game, sacrificing only two earned runs on six hits and three walks. Tori Hamura and Samantha Boelter each finished 1-for-1 with a double apiece.

In the later matchup, Emily McConnell's sacrifice fly put a run on the board even before Marissa Miller went to work in the circle. Miller held the Pirates to only three-hits until the Bucs' offense broke the game open with an eight-hit, nine-run sixth inning that ended the game 9-1 due to the eight-run rule.

Miller tossed a total of five innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Kat Enyeart pitched 0.1 innings of relief, surrendering two runs on two hits and one walk. For the Pirates, Makayla Lefever allowed only three hits in her six innings of work.

Pacific Lutheran will close out the four-game series against Whitworth on Sunday with a doubleheader that begins at noon.