MARSHALL, Texas – A five-run fifth inning blew open a 1-1 ballgame as the Pacific Lutheran softball team claimed a 7-1 upset victory over fourth-ranked East Texas Baptist in nonconference action Friday at Taylor Field.

Elli Rassbach picked up her second win of the season after limiting the Tigers to one run on three hits in the first four innings of the game. Marissa Miller came on in relief to pick up the final nine outs for the Lutes, earning her first save of the year after allowing only two hits while pitching three shutout innings.

"Tonight was a great team effort," PLU head coach Lance Glasoe said. "Ellie and Marissa did a fine jobe of getting ahead and staying ahead in the circle all night. We also had some timely hitting, and our defense did a nice job of playing catch."

While the pitching duo of Rassbach and Miller shut down the East Texas Baptist offense, the PLU offense combined for 11 hits and seven runs to go with four walks and three stolen bases. The Lutes struck first, as Becca Sorensen walked to open the game and stole second before coming in to score on Nichole Schroeder's single up the middle. East Texas Baptist tied it in the bottom of the third on back-to-back doubles, and the game remained tied until the top of the fifth.

Emily McConnell got the rally going with a one-out infield single, and Anna Overland followed with a single up the middle to put two on. Schroeder broke the tie with her second RBI single of the day, leaving runners on the corners. After Bailey Plumb pinch ran for Schroeder, Plumb stole second and advanced to third on a fielder's choice groundout by Kathryn Hatlen that scored Overland to make it 3-1 Lutes. Amy King pinch ran over at first and quickly stole second, and Jessica Alcomendas plated two with a single to left-center field. One out later Kelli Crawford scored Alcomendas with a single, and the Lutes closed the inning with a 6-1 lead.

PLU added one more insurance run in the final frame. Amanda Hartley led off with a pinch hit walk and was thrown out at third on a single by Alcomendas down the left field line. Thalen Masada came up with two outs and singled through the left side to score Alcomendas from second with the Lutes' seventh run of the day. Schroeder finished with three hits and two runs batted in, while Alcomendas went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Overland also totaled a pair of hits.

"It's great to see our team working together so well this early in the season," Rassbach said. "Tonight was a team effort, and everyone contributed in some way.

Now 2-2 in the first week of the 2016 season, the Lutes close out their trip to Texas Saturday with a doubleheader against Texas-Dallas. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2 p.m. CST.