Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NEWBERG, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran University softball team looked strong as they split two road games on Saturday with George Fox University.  The Lutes opened the day with a 12-7 win, but dropped game two 7-6 to the Bruins.
 
The Bruins (20-12, 12-9 NWC) struck first in game one, but a home run from Anna Overland put the Lutes (19-16, 10-12 NWC) up 2-1 in the second and they never relinquished the lead again. While it was a slug fest, the Lutes prevailed with 12 runs and 14 hits, including the three more home runs from Kathryn Hatlen (two) and Samantha Simundson.
 
Kennedy Robillard earned the win in the circle pitching all seven innings allowing 13 hits with seven strikeouts.
 
"Together we put together a lot of quality at bats and saw the ball fly out of the stadium many times," said Head Coach Traci Barrett. "Kathryn Hatlen with three home runs on the day, Samantha Simundson, Chaella Galapon, Mari Foster, and Anna Overland each added one to make it seven on the day."
 
Game two opened with the Lutes scoring in the first inning on a hit from Galapon, but the Bruins took a 3-1 lead in the third. A double from Overland tied it up in the top of the fourth, but the Bruins responded in the second half of the inning.  Hatlen had her third homerun of the day in the top of the fifth followed by another from Foster to put the Lutes up, but three homeruns from the Bruins led to the 7-6 final.
 
"We set ourselves up for success today, even through the rain delay," said Overland. "We came back out swinging the bat hard at good pitches which lead us to the win. Kennedy did a great job in the circle keeping them off balance and us in the game. We did the same thing in game two, but we let it slip. We are ready to come back out swinging tomorrow."
 
Hatlen ended the day with five hits, three of them homeruns and six runs batted in. Overland added four hits, including a homerun, and three RBIs. Simundson had three hits, including a home run and triple in game one and a total of six RBIs on the day.
 
"Working around rain delays is always challenging but our energy throughout today brought us the win in game one and kept us alive in game two," added Bailey Plumb. "This team is so close to showing our full potential and I think we can come out strong tomorrow and show everyone what we are truly capable of."
 
The Lutes close out the weekend tomorrow with two more in Newberg. Game one is currently schedule to start at noon.