TACOMA, Wash. - It was an offensive slugfest on Sunday afternoon with Pacific Lutheran University and Willamette University combining for 47 runs as the Lutes won both ends of a doubleheader to sweep the Northwest Conference series. PLU downed the Bearcats 14-10 in the opener before utilizing a Becca Sorensen sacrifice fly to walkoff with a 12-11 comeback win in the nightcap. 

"This team fights! I'm so happy for our whole team today," said Head Coach Traci Barrett. "I can't say enough about our dugout energy and leadership with one another this weekend."
 
It was a wild opener with PLU (18-15, 9-11 NWC) pouring on 10 runs over a two-inning span to come away with the win. 
 
Bailey Plumb touched home for the game's opening run in the bottom of the first, stealing third and then coming home on a Bearcat throwing error. Chaella Galapon and Samantha Simundson both hit RBI singles later in the inning, staking the Lutes up 3-0.
 
Willamette (3-28, 2-18 NWC) quickly answered with a three-run home run in the second before the Lutes added five in the third inning. Kennedy Robillard hit an RBI double to get things started before Simundson blasted a two-run home run. Anna Overland collected an RBI single while Plumb netted an RBI double to take the 8-3 lead.
 
The Bearcats closed within two before Simundson blasted a three-run home run in fourth. The Lutes capitalized on errors to push across two more, building a 13-6 lead. Marley Dyer added an RBI single in the fifth as the Lutes held on for the 14-10 win.
 
Simundson was a perfect three-for-three at the plate with six RBIs while five other Lutes finished with multiple hits.

"Sam was dialed in the whole weekend for what she wanted to hit. Fun to see her come through for our team."
 
Robillard earned the win inside the circle, striking out four in four innings of labor while Dyer notched her first career save, tossing the final three innings and fanning one. 
 
Game two saw Becca Sorensen hit a walkoff sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, scoring Bailey Plumb and giving the Lutes the series sweep.
 
The Lutes found themselves in early trouble, trailing 9-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning. PLU quickly changed its fortunes in the bottom of the second with Galapon hitting a solo home run to spark a seven run inning. Willamette's lead increased to 11-7 in the fourth but a Robillard two-run home run closed the Lutes back within two at 11-9.
 
Foster scored in the sixth while a Plumb single in the seventh scored Erin McGrath to tie the game. Plumb stole third setting up Sorensen who blasted a ball to foul territory in left field. The Bearcat left fielder caught the ball but was unable to throw it back in time as Plumb tagged up and scored the winning run.

"Ending game two with a win after being down 9-0 in the second inning is a testament to our entire team and the process we have stuck with all year which is to stay in the moment and keep things simple. If we didn't, the game may have been over, mentally, in the second."
 
Galapon finished game two with four RBIs and was one of four Lutes with multiple hits in the game. 

"There were so many clutch hits and aggressive base running moments in both games today. Becca coming through to finish the game was in her face from the moment she stepped in the box. In that at-bat she started behind 0-2 in the count and battled off seven more pitches to get the sac fly to score Bailey."
 
Kathryn Hatlen tossed four innings of long relief, allowing just one hit and one walk to secure the win. 
 
The Lutes return to the diamond on Saturday, facing George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon.