Contact: Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication

AUBURN, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University softball team proved for the second time in four days that they can hang with the nation's best, earning a doubleheader split against ninth-ranked George Fox University on Thursday night on the turf at Mountainview High School. Untimely errors cost the Lutes in game one, falling 3-2 before winning the nightcap 7-3.

The Bruins (29-7, 20-4 Northwest Conference) struck first in game two, plating a first inning run before Kathryn Hatlen drove in Bailey Plumb to knot the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first. PLU (12-22, 7-17 NWC) hopped ahead in the bottom of the third with a Kennedy Robillard double down the left field line scoring Plumb and Becca Sorensen to seize the 3-1 lead. The offensive fireworks didn't stop there with PLU adding three more on a two RBI triple from Anna Lennox and on a bunt from Delaney Salter to mushroom the lead to 6-1. Anna Overland drove in an insurance run in the fifth before GFU answered in the sixth, capitalizing on a wild throw to score two runs and close the gap to 7-3.

Hatlen was red hot at the plate in game two, finishing three-for-four as the Lutes pounded out 11 hits on the night. Robillard tallied her second win over the Bruins this week, striking out five and allowing just two hits.

"My team really backed me up all series," said Robillard. "Thats all I can say. I do my job and they do their jobs. None of these games are the same if our defense isn't playing good defense. I just throw the ball so they can put it in play and have my defense do the rest."

The visiting Bruins struck first in the opener, plating a run in the first inning before the Lutes answered with a single run of their own in the bottom of the frame. Kathryn Hatlen drove in the Lutes' first score, belting the squad's third consecutive single to score Becca Sorensen. A pair of errors allowed the Bruins to push ahead in the fourth before a RBI single from Samantha Simundson tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. An error followed by a triple in the seventh gave George Fox the winning run as they escaped with the 3-2 win.

PLU outhit the nationally-ranked Bruins with Sorensen, Hatlen, and Samantha Simundson all finishing two-for-three at the plate. Marissa Miller was the pitcher of record for PLU, striking out seven while allowing just one earned run.

The Lutes return to the diamond on Saturday, heading across town to face the University of Puget Sound in a twinbill beginning at 12 p.m.