TACOMA, Wash. - Chaella Galapon and Sarah Potwin both hit walkoff home runs as the Pacific Lutheran University softball squad secured a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Conference rival Willamette University on Friday afternoon. Galapon went yard in the Lutes' 8-6 victory in the opener before Potwin's blast came in extra innings in PLU's 5-3 win for the sweep.

"We constantly talk about the one pitch mentality and that was in play all day today on both sides of the ball," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.

"Chaella and Sarah came through with major clutch moments for us!"

The Lutes (14-8, 6-4 NWC) drew first blood in the opener with Cailey Collado scoring on a wild pitch in the third inning before an Erin McGrath single scored Galapon for a 2-0 lead. Galapon made it 3-0 in the fourth, driving in Arabella Perez but the Bearcats (5-9, 3-6 NWC) scored four in the fifth and one more in the sixth to seize a 5-3 advantage.

Mari Foster tied the game with a two-run home run in the sixth and a Potwin single scored Casey Wright for the 6-5 lead but a Bearcat sac fly in the seventh tied the game again at 6-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

In the seventh, Galapon was the hero, belting a two-out home run, driving in two for the 8-6 win.

Galapon finished three-for-four with three RBIs and three runs scored while Kamryn Adkins was three-for-four.

Marley Dyer pitched the opening five innings, striking out two while Emma Ware earned the win, allowing just one hit over the final two innings.

It was déjà vu in game two with Potwin belting a two-run home run for the walkoff win in the eighth inning.

Willamette struck first in the nightcap, scoring three runs in the third inning. Pacific Lutheran tied the contest in the bottom of the frame with a Brooke Tilson hit scoring two before a Galapon sac fly scored Tilson to tie the game. The score would remain 3-3 until Potwin blasted her two-run home run with two outs in the eighth to walk off with the sweep.

Wright and Tilson both finished with two hits while Cassidy Conrad went the distance inside the circle, striking out three in eight innings of action to collect the win.

"I'm very happy with the developing circle performances from week to week. Cassidy with the complete game win today along with a great start by Marley and finish from Emma. Our defense kept us in both games and put us in a position to be able to walk off both wins."

The Lutes return to the diamond on March 19, facing Lewis & Clark College in a doubleheader in Portland, Oregon.