ORANGE, Calif. – The Pacific Lutheran University softball team had been averaging 9.5 runs per game over the first eight games of the season, but scored just four on Sunday as they dropped a pair of games to Chapman University.
 
GAME 1
PLU (6-4) used a three-run sixth inning to tie the score at four, but the Panthers rallied for four of their own in the bottom of the inning to win the day's opening game, 8-4. 
 
The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 advantage after the first three innings to chase PLU starter Marley Dyer.  Erin McGrath did her best to get some back as she drilled her second home run of the season in the fourth. 
 
Trailing 4-1 in the sixth, the Lutes struck three times to tie the score.  McGrath walked to start the inning and catcher Casey Wright doubled to move her to third.  Sarah Potwin hit a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat and Molly House singled to cut the lead to one.  With two outs, freshman Brooke Tilson doubled in Kayla Terlecki, who was running for House to knot the score. 
 
The Panthers wouldn't be denied though as they scored four times in the bottom of the inning off of House.  House helped her cause with two hits and a RBI, while McGrath scored twice to pace the attack. 
 
GAME 2
The Lute offense mustered just three hits off of Chapman starter Simi Lauwers as she went the distance to pick up her third win of the young season and lead the Panthers to a 3-0 win.  Cassidy Conrad was the hard-luck loser on Sunday as she tossed a complete game and only allowed two earned runs. 
 
PLU got a two-out double from Mari Foster in the fourth and a one-out two-bagger from Brooke Tilson in the fifth, but the Lutes were unable to score.  Sarah Potwin singled in the sixth for PLU's only other hit in the second seven innings. 
 
The Lutes will end their California road trip tomorrow when they take on California Lutheran University tomorrow.  First pitch begins at 11:00 a.m.