SALEM, Ore. - The Pacific Lutheran University softball team secured a doubleheader split for the second consecutive day on Sunday, downing Northwest Conference rival Willamette University 5-3 in the opener before coming up short, 8-7, in game two.

In the opener, the Lutes (4-6, 2-2 NWC) erased an early 2-0 deficit to claim the win. The host Bearcats (3-6, 2-2 NWC) pushed across single runs in the second and third innings before the Lutes' tied the game in the fourth with Nanea Kalama belting a two-run home run to left center field.

Willamette pushed pack ahead with another run in the fourth but it was all Lutes after that with an Anna Foster sacrifice fly scoring Erin McGrath in the sixth before a wild pitch allowed Mikayla Chun to score later in the frame. PLU padded its lead in the seventh with a Kalama single scoring Mari Foster.

Kalama led the Lutes at the plate, going two-for-four with three RBIs while Chun finished two-for-four.

Kennedy Robillard struck out five and allowed just two earned runs to collected the complete game win inside the circle.

"We made some good adjustments today and that resulted in game one success at the plate," said Head Coach Traci Barrett. "Kennedy had excellent presence in the circle today and overcame a few tough situations to end with a win."

Game two opened to a familiar script with solo home runs in the second and third innings giving Willamette a 2-0 advantage. The Lutes tied the game in the fourth thanks to a Mari Foster single up the middle, scoring both Cailey Collado and Sydney Victor.

Willamette would surge back into the lead with a three-run fourth inning, taking a 5-2 lead. A Kalama two-run home run in the fifth inning closed the gap to just a single run before a Chaella Galapon single scored three for PLU, staking a 7-6 lead. The Bearcats would take the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run to secure the doubleheader split.

Foster and Galapon paced the Lutes in the nightcap, both finishing three-for-four at the plate as the Lutes outhit Willamette 14-10.

"We had some big clutch moments in game two from Nanea, Kennadi Wuebel, Chaella, Kamryn Adkins and Mari. Sydney had excellent at-bats all weekend, we just left too many baserunners in other innings and defensively gave the opponent a few extra opportunities that caused us to fall short in the end."

Z Ellis pitched the opening three innings for the Lutes striking out five while Marley Dyer closed out the game, striking out two over the final three frames.

"Z had a great start and Marley came in to close and did great for us. I'm glad our team had the opportunity to play our first 28-inning weekend against the same opponent so we all understand how much intent it takes to be successful with each pitch. We're growing and learning and can't wait to play again in Arizona."

The Lutes head to Tucson, Arizona next week, facing Babson College and Illinois Wesleyan University on Friday evening.