NEWBERG, Ore. – Seniors Cassidy Conrad and Erin McGrath sparked a Pacific Lutheran University softball victory to open today's doubleheader at George Fox University.  The Lutes won the first of two games, 2-1, before dropping the nightcap 4-6. 

"We came into today after a great week of practice to clean up what we didn't do well with last weekend," said PLU Head Coach Traci Barrett.  "Our defense was excellent today all-around.  Cassidy Conrad with a complete seven-inning win.  Best outing of the year so far.  Marley Dyer came in relief in Game 2 and held a good-hitting George Fox team to one run.  Erin McGrath and Mari Foster showed excellent plate apporach and proudced in big ways offensively.  Looking forward to a lineup wakeup 1-9 tomorrow."
 
Game 1
The Lutes and Bruins were engaged in a pitcher's duel to start the day, with Conrad allowing just one run on four hits to pick up her second win of the season.  She went the distance and struck out four, allowing just one run in the bottom of the third inning. 
 
With the tying run on third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Conrad induced a flyout to left field by Kamryn Potter and the Lutes were able to hold on to the victory. 
 
PLU's only runs came in the fourth inning on a two-run blast by McGrath.  Trailing 1-0 after the Bruins scored in the bottom of the third, the outfielder drilled an 0-2 pitch over the left field wall to score Mari Foster.  Foster was 2-for-3 in the opener as the duo contributed all three hits for the Lutes. 
 
Game 2
The Lutes went down early, battled, but couldn't come all the way back in second game of the day.  George Fox scored five runs in the first two innings off of freshman Kennedy Kila and that was all they would need as the PLU lineup scratched across four runs. 
 
In the third, McGrath was at it again with a sacrifice fly that scored Brooke Tilson and Sarah Potwin made it a crooked number as she knocked in Foster with a single through the left side.  The Lutes drew within one in the fourth as Foster blasted another 0-2 pitch over the fence to make it 5-4 in favor of the home team. 
 
Out of the bullpen, Marley Dyer was spectacular, throwing four innings and allowing just one run on five hits. Foster scored two runs, drove in two and had two hits.  Emma Ware also had a pair of base hits to lead the attack.    
 
The two teams will square off again tomorrow as the Lutes aim to win their second conference series to start the year.  First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.