TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University softball team cranked out three home runs on Sunday but was unable to keep pace with visiting Whitworth University, dropping both ends of a Northwest Conference doubleheader. The Lutes fell 8-0 in the opener before getting edged 6-5 in the nightcap.

 The Pirates (19-5, 13-1 NWC) seized an early lead in the opener and never looked back while Madelyn Carlson tossed a complete game one-hitter. Whitworth scored a run in the top of the first, added four more in the second, before taking on one more in the third and two in the fourth.

Whitworth pushed across a run in the top of the first inning in game two but a solo home run from Erin McGrath tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning. The Lutes (14-15, 5-11 NWC) seized the lead in the third on a Chaella Galapon solo home run before Samantha Simundson went yard later in the inning, pushing the PLU advantage to 4-1.

The Pirates closed the gap with two runs in the fourth before taking the lead with three runs in the fifth inning. A Simundson groundout in the sixth scored pinch runner Bailey Plumb, closing teh deficit to just one run but the Lutes were unable to come any closer as Whitworth escaped with the win.

Three of the Lutes' four hits in game two were home runs with Simundson headlining the day at the plate with three RBIs.

Z Ellis pitched the opening 4 1/3 innings and struck out three while Kennedy Robillard allowed just two hits and no runs over the final 2 2/3 innings of play. 

"We have to work on consistency as a team. We come out and have hesitant at bats in game one, lacked communication and didn't follow through with any part of our game plan. (Whitworth's) Carlson pitched well and we give credit to her outing today," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.

"Game two we attacked good pitches early in the count and were a different team. After we went up 4-1 we failed to shut their hitters down defensively. We're better than we played today. Nicole Manuel was a spark plug in right field defensively. Z and Kennedy combined pitched good enough for us to end game two with a W and this was a big growth weekend by Z against a good hitting team."

The Lutes continue the homestand next Saturday, hosting Willamette University in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.

"Home runs from Chaella, Erin, and Sam were big and I hope we can get back to consistent offensive production this week as we prepare for Willamette."