Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TUCSON, Ariz. – Facing some stiff competition on the opening day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic, the Pacific Lutheran University softball team suffered an 11-4 defeat against Babson University before falling 3-0 to No. 6 Illinois Wesleyan University. 
 
Babson 11, PLU 4
 
Sophomore Mari Foster put on a show at the plate for PLU, falling just a single short of the cycle and driving in three runs.
 
Trailing 3-0 after the Beavers scored three runs in the first inning, Mari Foster drilled a three-run bomb to knot the score.  The sophomore tripled in her first at-bat with two outs, but PLU was unable to convert. 
 
In the fifth inning, Mari Foster doubled with one out and Anna Foster followed with a two-bagger to complete the scoring for PLU.  Erin McGrath also had a pair of doubles for the Lutes. 
 
Junior Kennedy Robillard took the loss for the Lutes after allowing six runs in two innings pitched.  Sophomore Marley Dyer relieved her, throwing the final five innings. 
 
Illinois Wesleyan 3, PLU 0
 
Sophomore Z Ellis held the No. 6 team in the country to just three runs over 4.1 innings on Friday, but the PLU offense managed just two hits against Titan hurler Brea Walker.  Ellis recorded four strikeouts and held IWU to just three hits on the night. 
 
The Lutes threatened to strike in the fourth inning.  With two outs Mari Foster singled and freshman catcher Mikayla Chun followed with a base hit, but Walker escaped the inning with no harm done. 
 
The Lutes will face more top competition tomorrow when they take on No. 22 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and top-ranked Texas Lutheran University.