Written by Student Assistant Jake Bilyeu

TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University softball squad was unable to match the firepower of Whitworth University on Sunday, dropping both ends of a Northwest Conference doubleheader. The Lutes fell 4-0 in the opener before faltering 10-2 in the nightcap to close the weekend series.

"Today was tough," head coach Brandi Gordon Bennett said. "I was proud of our team for coming out and being ready to play after some tough losses yesterday."

The Pirates (14-8, 7-3 NWC) opened the first game with a strong first inning, scoring four runs to take the early lead. The Lute defense stepped up from that point on and only allowed three hits and zero runs, but their offense struggled to close the gap. The Lutes (8-14, 3-9 NWC) managed to outhit the Pirates 6-5 in the opener, but failed to send runs home in the fourth and sixth inning when they had runners in scoring position. Ultimately, the Pirates' first inning proved to be enough, as they won 4-0.

Becca Sorensen and Kennedy Robillard paced the Lutes at the plate in game one, both going two-for-three.

The Pirates started strong again in the second game, scoring three runs in the first inning, before the Lutes managed to cut into the lead in the top of the third, as Becca Sorensen sent Jessica Alcomendas home on a single.

The Pirates added two runs to their lead over the next few innings, and the Lutes followed that up with another run in the sixth, as Kennedy Robillard scored on a Bailey Plumb single. However, the Pirates countered with a five-run sixth inning and put the game out of reach, as the Pirates won 10-2 in six innings.

The Lutes pounded out nine hits in game two with Anna Overland finishing two-for-three.

"They battled hard every inning," Gordon Bennett said. "We are just still making some of the same mistakes that are costing us in the end."

The Lutes now hope to climb back up in the standings after a difficult weekend. The team will head south to McMinnville, Oregon for a weekend of doubleheaders against Linfield College in the second of three-straight road trips.

"We're hoping to get lots of reps this week to turn around and fight hard next weekend," Gordon Bennett said.