FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran University softball team continued to play some its best ball of the season on Saturday, outscoring Pacific University 17-4 in a pair of road Northwest Conference games. 
 
"We had a great start to the day at the plate putting up four runs in the top of the first," said PLU Head Coach Traci Barrett.  "Cassidy Conrad came into Game 1 and with the cushion of a four-run lead to start the game and dominated with a one-hit, five inning win.  It was also great to see Amaya Smith with her second complete game win of the season in Game 2.  The offense did a lot as well with multiple RBI singles, great base running and execution of situational hitting to advance runners and home runs by Brooke Tilson and Erin McGrath.  One pitch at a time approach tomorrow the same intent of today is our goal."
 
Game 1
The Lutes needed just five innings to record an 8-0 victory over the home team.  Reigning NWC Pitcher of the Week Cassidy Conrad was dominant on the afternoon, allowing just one hit and a pair of walks in the complete game shutout. 
 
PLU jumped out of the gates with four runs in the opening inning.  The first three Lutes reached base and Cailey Collado, who led off the game with a single, scored on a passed ball.  With one out, Emma Ware singled back up the middle to plate a pair and Shanelle Lum capped the inning with a RBI triple. 
 
After going scoreless in the second and third innings, the Lutes put up four more in the fourth.  Brooke Tilson led off the inning with a home run with Collado and Foster reaching behind her.  Erin McGrath blasted her 10^th home run of the season to give the Lutes an 8-0 lead. 
 
Collado, McGrath and Ware all had a pair of hits in the victory with Ware and McGrath combining for five RBI. 
 
Game 2
PLU took control of a competitive ball game with a four-run fifth inning en route to an easy 9-4 win to complete the sweep.  Three straight RBI singles by Kassidi Dean, Tilson and Collado keyed the rally with Mari Foster making it four straight batters with a RBI when she scored Tilson with a sacrifice fly. 
 
Amaya Smith (3-2) went the distance for PLU.  The freshman tossed her first seven-inning complete game of her career and only allowed two runs until Pacific's final at-bat.  She yielded six hits and struck out three. 
 
Casey Wright got PLU on the board in the first with a sacrifice fly and Tilson homered in the second inning for the second straight game to make it 3-1.  The Lutes went up 5-2 in the fourth when Tilson drove in Mattie Cheever and McGrath knocked in Tilson later in the inning. 
 
Tilson and Foster both had two hits each for lead the offense as the Lutes had 11 hits in the nightcap. 
 
The Lutes will go for the series victory tomorrow when they do battle with the Boxers for the second day in a row.  Action in Forest Grove starts at 11:00 a.m.