CLAREMONT, Calif. - Mari Foster cranked out five hits on the day as the Pacific Lutheran University softball team earned a doubleheader split on Sunday against host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. The Lutes prevailed 7-5 in a marathon nine-inning showdown to begin the day before suffering a 6-1 setback in the nightcap.
 
In the opener, the Lutes (1-3) pushed across a trio of runs in the third inning. Nicole Manuel scored the game's opening run on a double steal before Mikayla Chun blasted a two-run home run, giving the Lutes the 3-0 advantage. 

The Athenas (3-4) pushed across a run in the fourth but the Lutes added a run in both the fifth and sixth innings for the 5-1 lead. Erin McGrath had an RBI single to score Sydney Victor in the fifth while a Nicole Manuel RBI fielder's choice brought home Victor.
 
Claremont battled back, scoring a run in the sixth and three in the seventh to force extra innings. After a scoreless eighth, the Lutes came alive in the ninth with RBI doubles from Mari Foster and Erin McGrath to collect the 7-5 win.
 
Foster finished the opener three-for-four at the plate while Manuel, Cailey Collado, Chun, and McGrath all finished with a pair of hits.
 
Inside the circle Kennedy Robillard tossed the opening six innings, striking out three while Marley Dyer closed out the game, securing the win after scattering three hits over the final three frames. 
 
"I was happy we were able to finish today and learned from yesterday's game two ending," said Head Coach Traci Barrett. "Kennedy and Marley combined for a solid performance. Offensively, Mari had the timely hit at the start of the ninth inning rally that ended in two runs to give us the lead."
 
In game two, the Athenas struck first, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. PLU countered in the top of the second with a Raynna Mekaru outfield single scoring Victor, cutting the deficit to just a single run. Host CMS would pad its advantage with a single run in the second before tacking on three more in the fourth to secure the 6-1 win to salvage the split.

Foster again led the Lutes at the plate, finishing two-for-three, closing the doubleheader with five total hits.
 
Kamryn Adkins and Marley Dyer combined to pitch four innings of relief, allowing no earned runs including Dyer yielding just one base-runner in 1 1/3 innings of work. 
 
"Overall Mari's offensive production in both games and on the basepath led our team. Mikayla gave us the early run support and Raynna had some big moments in centerfield tracking down well hit balls. We're still working on our stamina to get through games and respond as a unit behind our pitchers and every pitch of the game. We can't wait to be back at it tomorrow."
 
PLU's season opening California road swing comes to a close tomorrow, facing California Lutheran University in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.