Written by Student Assistant Jake Bilyeu

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – The short-staffed Pacific Lutheran University softball team battled Northwest Conference leading Linfield College before ultimately coming up short in both ends of a doubleheader on Sunday, falling 4-1 and 4-0. The Lutes and Wildcats will attempt to make up Saturday's rained out doubleheader later this week before next weekend's series at Willamette University.

 "Even though we didn't win today, the limited number of players we had to play today showed up ready to play," head coach Brandi Gordon Bennett said.

The Wildcats (20-6, 12-2 NWC) opened the first game with a run in the first inning before the Lutes (8-16, 3-11 NWC) managed to even the game in the third, as Anna Overland sent Gabriella Moreno in to score on a single.  The Wildcats responded with another run in the third to take a 2-1 lead.  The Wildcats then managed to add to that lead in the bottom of the fifth with two more runs.  From there, the Lutes almost managed to mount a comeback in the seventh inning by loading the bases, but a fly-out ended the game with three runners still on base.

Marissa Miller struck out nine in the complete game effort while Moreno and Becca Sorensen led the Lutes at the plate, both finishing with a pair of hits.

The Wildcats started off the second game with runs in each of the first three innings, taking a 4-0 lead.  The Lutes advanced runners to scoring position in the second on a single from Anna Overland and Bailey Plumb, and again in the fifth on a double from Elise Freund.  The Lutes couldn't manage to score in either scenario, though, ultimately leading to a 4-0 Wildcat win.

"I'm happy that we fought and that we got better today," Gordon Bennett said. "We hope to put both sides of the ball together and walk away with some wins this week."

The Lutes and Wildcats are hoping to take the field again later this week before playing Willamette on Friday and Saturday. The games against the Bearcats will be the Lutes' final set of doubleheaders in three straight weekends of road games before they return home.