Written by Student Assistant Jake Bilyeu

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University softball team opened another weekend of Northwest Conference play on Saturday, coming up short in both ends of a doubleheader against host Whitworth University, falling 7-1 and 8-7.

"We made some improvements today but played a very good team so they were not rewarded on the scoreboard," head coach Brandi Gordon Bennett said.

The Pirates (12-8, 5-3 NWC) opened the first contest of the afternoon with runs in each of the first six innings to go up 7-0. The Lutes (8-12, 3-7 NWC) responded with a run in the top of the seventh, as Anna Overland managed to score on a fielding error. Shortly after, though, a double play ended any chance of a Lute comeback as the Pirates held on for the win.

The Lute offense provided much more scoring in the second game. After falling behind 2-0 early, the Lutes rattled off six unanswered runs, starting with a double from Kennedy Robillard in the third. Robillard was followed up by Overland, Samantha Simundson, and Elise Freund, whose fifth inning hits propelled the Lutes to a 6-2 lead.

The Pirates managed to respond with a five runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Two innings later, Corina Jones hit a homer to left center to even the score. However, the Pirates earned the last laugh on a walk in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 8-7 win.

PLU outhit Whitworth 13-11 in the nightcap with Robillard finishing a perfect four-for-four at the plate. Inside the circle, Marissa Miller struck out five in the complete game effort.

"We will take the good, flush the bad, and continue to push the women to believe that they have what it takes to play effectively and to win ball games," Gordon Bennett said.

The Lutes will retake the field on Sunday at noon hoping to take two games and split the weekend with the Pirates.