SPOKANE, Wash. - Cranking out 31 hits over the course of the afternoon was more than enough offensive output for the Pacific Lutheran University softball team on Saturday, securing a Northwest Conference doubleheader sweep of host Whitworth University. The Lutes needed extra innings to take the opener 12-10 before cruising to the 8-3 win in game two.

Erin McGrath belted her eighth home run of the season in the top of the first inning to open the doubleheader, giving the Lutes an early 1-0 advantage. PLU's lead proved fleeting, yielding five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
PLU (8-14, 5-9 NWC) struck back in the third inning. A Chaella Galapon double plated Arabella Perez before Galapon scored after stealing home. Casey Wright belted a two-run home run as did Mari Foster to give the Lutes the 6-5 lead.
 
The Pirates (6-14, 4-4 NWC) reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third, adding two runs. 
 
A Shanelle Lum single scored Kassidi Dean in the seventh inning but Whitworth tallied a run of its own in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and force extra innings.
 
In extras, Cailey Collado singled up the middle to score Galapon before Foster blasted a 2 RBI double to left center field. Dean added to the Lute lead with a single up the middle scoring Foster for a 12-8 advantage. 
 
The Pirates pushed across two runs in the bottom of the eighth but consecutive flyouts gave the Lutes the 12-10 win.
 
Galapon, McGrath, and Dean all finished with three hits while Foster collected four RBIs in the opener. All told the Lutes cranked out 19 base hits from nine different players.
 
Molly House logged a majority of time inside the circle, pitching six innings to secure the win. Kennedy Robillard started the game before giving way to House. Robillard would re-enter in the eighth, recording the final two outs to net the save. 
 
 In the nightcap, PLU scored four runs in the third inning and tacked on three more in the fourth to seize an early 7-0 lead. Wright had an RBI double in the third while a Robillard single scored two more. Collado, McGrath, and Wright all tallied RBIs in the fourth while Wright tacked on another for good measure in the top of the sixth.
 
Collado finished the nightcap a perfect four-for-four at the plate with three runs scored while Wright collected three RBIs and two base hits.
 
Inside the circle, Z Ellis went four innings to earn the win, striking out three while Marley Dyer notched the save, tossing three innings of long relief. Dyer notched three strikeouts while allowing just two base hits.
 
The Lutes and Pirates close out the series tomorrow with a header beginning at 11 a.m.