AUBURN, Wash. - A venue change was unable to faze the Pacific Lutheran University softball team on Saturday afternoon, earning a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Conference rival Willamette University on the all-turf field at Auburn Mountainview High School. The Lutes held on for a wild 11-10 win in the opener before collecting an 8-3 win in the nightcap.

The Lutes (16-15, 7-11 NWC) wasted little time getting on the board, plating three runs in the first inning. Consecutive triples from Kathryn Hatlen and Kennedy Robillard pushed across two before an Erin McGrath single put the Lutes up 3-0.

The Bearcats (3-26, 2-16 NWC) answered with four runs in the top of the second before the Lutes piled on four of its own in the bottom of the second. Three straight singles loaded the bases before a Becca Sorensen sacrifice fly brought in one followed by Hatlen clearing the bases with a three-run home run. Anna Overland singled in Samantha Simundson in the third inning before a Simundson single in the fourth gave the Lutes a 9-4 lead.

Willamette added three runs in the fifth only to see the Lutes answer with two in the bottom half, getting RBI hits from Becca Sorensen and Chaella Galapon. The Bearcats whittled the deficit to just two runs after scoring two in the sixth and had the winning run 60-feet away in the seventh before a strikeout preserved the win for the Lutes.

The Lutes pounded out 17 hits in game one with Hatlen finishing three-for-three with four RBIs and two runs scored. Overland was three-for-four while six total Lutes had multiple hits in the game.

Robillard earned the win inside the circle, striking out seven. Marley Dyer tossed two innings of relief for the Lutes, striking out one.

"It was great to come out with a plan to lessen pressure and the whole team worked great together. It's a lot easier to hit when everyone is relaxed and having fun," said Kathryn Hatlen.

In game two a wild pitch allowed Willamette to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Lutes capitalized on a slew of walks and wild pitches to push across four runs in the bottom of the frame. Sorensen added to the Lute lead in the bottom of the fourth, legging out an inside the park home run after blasting the ball down the left field line to build a 5-1 lead.

PLU's advantage mushroomed to 7-1 in the fifth inning with Galapon scoring on a throwing error while a Nicole Manuel single scored pinch hitter Sydney Victor. A Hatlen single in the sixth pushed the Lute lead to 8-1. Willamette attempted a late rally in the seventh, scoring two runs and had the potential tying run on deck before a groundout cut the rally short and preserved the win for PLU.

Sorensen finished three-for-four at the plate with three runs scored while Galapon drew three walks and scored two runs.

Z Ellis allowed just an infield hit through the opening six innings of the game, finishing with nine strikeouts and three hits at the end of the day. Robillard closed out the day, notching the save after collecting the final out in the seventh.

"Hatlen was on fire at the plate!" said head coach Traci Barrett. "I'm happy she started the weekend off so strong and set the tone for the whole team. I'm proud of how our team fought today, Even though game one wasn't as clean defensively as we would have liked, we had some clutch offensive hits and were able to pull through and get the win."

"I think we turned it around in game two and played with intent. Z Ellis pitched a great game and we made adjustments at the play early on, which is something we've been working to improve on this season."

The Lutes and Bearcats finish the series tomorrow with another doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.

"We're ready to come out tomorrow and take it one pitch at a time."