PARKLAND – The Pacific Lutheran softball team split its doubleheader with Pacific on Saturday, shutting out the Boxers 1-0 in the first game and dropping the second matchup 13-9 in extra innings.
Strong pitching from both teams highlighted the first game. Leah Butters (9-9) pitched seven innings of three-hit ball with no walks for her best outing of the season. Boxers' starting pitcher Marissa Reichard also had a solid outing, giving up only two hits to the Lutes with four walks in six innings of work.
PLU's solo run came in the fourth inning when Amanda Hartley singled up the middle to score Sydney Smythe from third base. A single by Samantha Boelter in the same inning was the only other hit recorded by the Lutes offense.
The bats came alive in the second game with each team recording 13 hits. The Lutes got things started with three runs in the first inning, which included back-to-back home runs by Elli Rassbach and Tori Hamura, the first of the season for both. The Boxers added one run in the top of the third with the Lutes answering with a run of their own in the home half of the inning.
A solo home run off the bat of Pacific's Kylee Yamamoto lessened the gap between the teams with the Lutes still leading 4-2. PLU added two insurance runs in the home half of the sixth to take a 6-2 lead into the seventh where the Boxers showed they were not going down easily. Pacific rallied for six runs on five hits, including a three-run shot by Kylee Oshiro to tie the game.
With two outs and two runners on in the home half of the seventh, Thalen Masada worked an eight-pitch at-bat, doubling to left field and scoring both runners to tie the game and take it to extras.
After allowing a leadoff double in the eighth, Butters entered to pitch relief for second-game starter Marissa Miller. Butters surrendered three hits to the Boxers, including two home runs that allowed Pacific to regain the lead 13-8. Again, the Lutes refused to go down without a fight, getting a rally going with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Boelter doubled and Hartley followed with a single. Kaelyn Voss drew a walk to load the bases and Kailyn Osaki worked a nine-pitch count for a walk to score a run. The Boxers eventually recorded the final out to take the 13-9 win.
Miller tossed seven innings and allowed nine runs on 10 hits and three walks. Butters recorded the loss after allowing four runs on three hits in one inning of relief.
McConnell finished the second game 3-for-5 with two RBI while Rassbach went 2-for-3, plating four for the Lutes.
PLU will return to action on Sunday, hosting George Fox in a doubleheader with a 12 p.m. first pitch.
