TACOMA, Wash. – After winning the first two games of the four-game season series back on March 11, the Pacific Lutheran University softball team finished off the season sweep of the Bearcats this afternoon with 4-2 and 7-5 victories.
Game 1
Cassidy Conrad improved to 4-1 on the season as she tossed a two-hitter to lead the Lutes to a 4-2 victory.
PLU scored twice in the bottom of the first.
Chaella Galapon started the inning with a walk, stole second and came around on a
Mari Foster single. Foster eventually stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
The Bearcats scored a run in the second, but the Lutes added two more in the third. Galapon set the table again with a double and Foster singled to move her to third. Foster stole second before
Erin McGrath and
Sarah Potwin hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to drive in a pair.
Conrad didn't allow a hit over the final three innings and retired nine straight batters to end the game. The senior struck out five and overcame four free passes and a hit batter.
Foster's two hits led the PLU lineup, with Galapon singling and walking twice.
Game 2
It was a rough start for the Lutes in the nightcap as they surrendered three runs in the first inning, but a pair of home runs in a five-run fifth inning allowed the Lutes to rally for the victory.
Shanelle Lum kickstarted the comeback in the second with a RBI single up the middle in the second and
Erin McGrath hit a no-doubter over the left field fence to cut the visitor lead to 3-2. The doubled their lead in the top of the fifth, but the Lutes finally posted a crooked number in the bottom half.
Mari Foster led off the inning with a deep home run to left center and with one out,
Casey Wright and
Sarah Potwin hit back-to-back singles for designated player
Molly House. House hammered the ball over the left field fence to put the Lutes up 6-4. The offense kept on pushing as
Cailey Collado and
Taylor Shigeta stroked singles and
Brooke Tilson walked. With the bases loaded and one out, Galapon grounded out to shortstop to knock in Collado and add some insurance.
Emma Ware (4-1) picked up the win in relief after pitching five innings and allowing just one run on seven hits.
Amaya Smith added her first career save as she got the final six outs and allowed just one run, while striking out a pair.
Offensively, Collado and House both had two hits and eight of the nine starters all had a base hit for 11 total safeties for the attack.
The Lutes will remain at home next weekend when host #8 Linfield University. The four-game series begins on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
