Written by Student Assistant Jake Bilyeu

TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University softball squad opened its Northwest Conference schedule on Saturday at home with a doubleheader split against Lewis & Clark College. The visiting Pioneers stole game one 4-3 before the Lutes secured the 6-2 victory in the nightcap.

The Lutes (3-3, 1-1 NWC) surrendered the first run of the opening game to their guests on a bases loaded walk in the first inning. However, they followed that up with an impressive three-run second with a two-run RBI from Gabriella Moreno, who then scored on an additional RBI from Becca Sorenson. However, the Lutes weren't able to generate much more offense through the first contest, and the Pioneers added three runs in the next two innings to secure the win in game one.

"I think we got going a little slowly in the first game today, and it showed," Head Coach Brandi Gordon Bennett said. "We had a few errors that put us behind in that game, but we came back swinging with a purpose in the next one."

Moreno finished game one three-for-four at the plate for the Lutes while Marissa Miller struck out three in the complete game effort. Savannah Dickson collected the win for the Pioneers (2-4, 1-1 NWC), tossing 4 1/3 innings while Megan Anderson netted the save, striking out two over teh final 2 2/3 innings.

First-year Kennedy Robillard got the Lute offense going early in the first inning with a double to score Moreno's second run of the day. In the third, Anna Overland, Delaney Salter, and Samantha Simundson, each batted in a run for the Lutes, and a fielder's choice scored two more later in the inning to put the Lutes up 6-0. The Pioneers responded with two runs in the fourth, but that was all that they could muster as the Lutes earned their first conference victory of the season.

"Lewis & Clark played a great couple of games," Gordon Bennett said. "Our bats were better in the second game because we were more patient than we were in the first game, and we swung on pitches when we could earn good hits. The women made a good adjustment and stayed balanced in their legs, which helped us split the day."

The Lutes saw equal contributions from veterans and newcomers on the field Saturday, a sign that the team's younger players are already adjusting to their new roles in the college game. Among those is first-year Kennedy Robillard, who's strong day inside the circle paired with key contributions at the plate made for quite the conference debut.

"It's just comfortable being around everybody here," Robillard said. "Our team has been working all year, and we're always cheering each other on regardless of the environment, and that always makes me feel better."

Robillard earned three strikeouts while allowing nine hits and two runs in a complete game in which she also delivered three hits in four at bats offensively. Robillard hopes to bring that same strength to Sunday's doubleheader, and the Lutes on the whole will need to bring a little more energy into those games if want hope to leave the weekend with a winning record.

"Our newcomers were the ones that kept us going the whole day," Gordon Bennett said. "They were on fire, and we need that tomorrow as well if we want to pick up two more wins."

The Lutes will return to the field on Sunday at noon, hoping to take the weekend 3-1 over the visiting Pioneers.