Box Score Written by Student Assistant Jake Bilyeu
NWC Tournament Website
TACOMA, Wash. – The third-seeded Pacific Lutheran University softball team opened its 2017 postseason run at the Northwest Conference Tournament with one of their best performances this season, blanking second-seeded Linfield College 6-0 on Friday afternoon at Diana Marks Field. The win sets up a showdown tomorrow with host Whitworth University with the winner advancing to the Championship game of the double elimination tournament.
The Lutes (21-14) opened up the Wildcat defense when Emily McConnell doubled to left field in the second inning to send Amy King and Nichole Schroeder home for the 2-0 lead. McConnell added to her RBI total in the next inning, sending two more runs home on a single to right field. PLU added insurance runs in the fourth and sixth to cruise to the victory.
The Lute defense played just as important of a role in the team's victory on Friday. By the time the 22nd-ranked Wildcats (32-9) had their first runner in scoring position, the Lutes had already added a fifth run to their lead thanks to a single from Kathryn Hatlen in the fourth.
The Lutes outhit the Wildcats 14-3 on the day. Elli Rassbach capped off the team's strong run with a double to center-field which allowed Jessica Wallace to score, giving the Lutes a 6-0 victory. Rassbach was superb inside the circle, going the distance and striking out three to collect the win.
"The team did a great job creating a tempo and keeping it for the entire game," head coach Brandi Gordon Bennett said. "It was fun to watch our team come out and play all three sides of the ball well."
The Lutes hope to carry their momentum over to Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when they take on Whitworth, who defeated George Fox University 2-0 on Friday to join the Lutes in the second round. Even after the team's best game yet, coach Gordon Bennett is keeping her players focused on consistency and excellence.
"We are going to keep focusing on getting better every inning and playing our game to keep us going throughout this tournament."
