By Jake Bilyeu, PLU Sports Information Student Writer
FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran softball team began Saturday's Northwest Conference doubleheader by outlasting host Pacific 6-5 in 14 innings. Pacific bounced back to win the second game 7-0 as the teams split the doubleheader to open the 2016 NWC season.
"The team did a nice job of playing routine defense in that first game," PLU head coach Lance Glasoe said. "Pacific is a well-coached team and took advantage of our mistakes in the second game."
PLU took an early lead thanks to a home run from Nichole Schroeder in the first inning that put the Lutes up 2-0. The team extended that lead to 3-0 in the third on an RBI single by Amanda Hartley. Pacific cut into the lead with two runs in the fourth, but the Lutes responded with two of their own in the top of the fifth when Schroeder singled and Kathryn Hatlen brought her home with a home run. PLU carried a 5-2 lead into the seventh inning.
As the Lutes were trying to close out the win with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Boxers' offense came back into the game. A triple by Trisha Snydar scored two runs to make it 5-4, and an infield single by Rachel Roberts tied the game. Marissa Miller struck out Kaitlynn Donaca to end the inning, but the game was far from over as the teams went to extra innings.
Both defenses locked things down in extra innings, as neither side earned a hit until the bottom of the ninth, when the Lutes got out of a bases-loaded jam on fly ball to center to end the inning. PLU's Jessica Wallace made it to third base in the top of the 10th, but PLU couldn't bring her in and the game continued.
Pacific put the potential game-winning runs on third in both the 11th and 12th innings before the Lute defense pulled through to preserve the tie. After a quiet 13th, the Lutes finally got back on the scoreboard when Hartley doubled and scored on a single by Becca Sorensen. Pacific got one more hit in the bottom of the inning, but the Elli Rassbach struck out Megan Winans to end the game. Rassbach pitched the final three innings in relief of Miller, who started and pitched 11 innings without allowing an earned run.
After the marathon win in the first game, the Lutes saw the Boxers put four runs on the board between the first two innings of the second game. Pacific's Cassie Apple pitched a complete-game shutout to earn the doubleheader split. Rassbach took the loss after allowing four earned runs in a six-inning complete game.
Schroeder went 2-for-2 with the home run and four walks in the opener and added another hit in the second game. Hatlen also totaled three hits between the two games, including her fourth homer of the year. Hartley reached base four times in the first game on three hits and a walk, and Sorensen picked up a pair of hits in the opener.
The two teams are set to match up for two more games Sunday, with first pitch of the first game set for 12 p.m.
"We need to come out and be focused on every pitch," Glasoe said. "If we do what we do best, things will work out."
