Written by Student Assistant Jake Bilyeu

TACOMA, Wash. – After nearly a month away from its home field, the Pacific Lutheran University softball team returned in dramatic fashion on Monday, earning a doubleheader split against 10th-ranked and Northwest Conference leader George Fox University thanks to a walkoff hit from Becca Sorensen. The Lutes dropped the opener 5-0 before coming away with the dramatic 1-0 win in the nightcap at PLU Field.

"We competed with one of the best teams in our conference, and our women came out ready to fight," head coach Brandi Gordon Bennett said. "We fought hard and played extremely well for all but one inning, and it was fun to watch."

The Bruins (25-6, 19-3 NWC) opened the scoring in the third inning of the first game on a fielder's choice ground-out. The Lutes (11-21, 6-16 NWC) had runners in scoring position in the third and fifth innings, but they couldn't capitalize. The Bruins then boosted their lead with an RBI single and three-run homer in the seventh to collect the win.

The Lutes controlled the Bruins' offense for much of the second game, only allowing three hits. The Lutes also committed zero errors on the day, and catcher Delaney Salter picked off three runners on the basepaths.

The Lute offense earned a hit in each of the first four innings but struggled to string any more plays together. PLU threatened to score in the sixth inning by loading the bases with two outs, but a strike out ended that chance.

Finally, in the seventh inning, with a runner on second and two outs, Becca Sorensen delivered a single up the middle, allowing Bailey Plumb to score the game winning run. Plumb reached base on a two-out infield single before stealing second base to put herself in scoring position.

"It felt amazing to get that win," Sorensen said. "I'm super pumped and proud of this team."

The Lutes confidence late in the second game allowed them to stay poised and ready to pull off a clutch play when the opportunity came.

"Today we came out on top because we stuck with it and rose to the challenge," Gordon Bennett said. "I've said throughout the season that this team always competes, and so being able to come away with the win at the end was awesome."

While Sorensen provided the winning play, the Lutes performed well on all fronts on both sides of the field.

"We played really clean defense, our pitching was great, and then we got clutch hits when we needed to," Sorensen said. "Everyone gave their best effort today, so it was definitely a team win."

Marissa Miller and Kennedy Robillard combined for the shutout inside the circle. Miller handled the opening four innings, allowing just two hits and logged 11 innings between the two games before Robillard picked up the win after pitching the final three innings.

The Lutes return to the diamond on Saturday, traveling across town to face the University of Puget Sound before hosting the Loggers the following day.