CLAREMONT, Calif. – Pacific Lutheran University sophomore pitcher Kennedy Kila tossed a one-hit shutout and hit a two-run home run to help her own cause to lead the Lutes to a 3-0 victory in Game 2 of the season-opening doubleheader at Pomona-Pitzer. PLU fell 11-10 in Game 1 as the Lutes split the doubleheader with the Sagehens.
 
"Today was the tale of two defenses," said PLU Head Coach Traci Barrett. "Game 1 was a tough one to swallow considering how hard we work. We went into Game 2 working to find our game and it worked in our favor. Casey (Wright), Erin (McGrath) and Chaella Galapon had a great first game at the plate. We did a great job of responding to their offense inning to inning, but we had a lot to clean up defensively. Kennedy Kila and Rylie Wada came alive in Game 2. I am impressed with our dugout and the ability to stay pitch-to-pitch for this point of the season."
 
Game 1
The Lute offense scored in each of the first five innings and built a 10-5 lead after the visiting half of the fifth inning. PLU was unable to close it out though as the Sagehens scored six runs over the final three innings to earn a walkoff win.
 
Casey Wright led the offensive attack going 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. Kila added a pair of doubles, while Galapon two hits and two RBI. Mari Foster also reached base three times with a single and two walks.
 
Cassidy Conrad (0-1) took the loss after throwing a combined 5.2 innings and yielding eight runs. Conrad was relieved by Emma Ware in the sixth inning, but re-entered the game in the bottom of the seventh with no outs and a 10-9 score after a leadoff home run.
 
Game 2
After an offensive explosion to start the season, neither team was able to light the scoreboard until Kila blasted a two-run homer in the top of the sixth. An Erin McGrath RBI double in the seventh made it 3-0 and provided Kila with more than enough insurance.
 
Kila (1-0) allowed just one hit in the fourth inning and retired the first 11 batters she faced. She allowed just one more base runner, hitting a batter with two outs in the seventh. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii native struck out four in the start.
 
Offensively, McGrath and Kila had two hits each and Wada went 3-for-3 as the designated player.
 
The Lutes (1-1) will play at the University of La Verne tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. PLU will take on the Leopards to start the day and will play the University of Redlands at 1:30 p.m. in the second game of the day.