TACOMA, Wash. — Two innings played an outsized role in the outcome of both ends of a doubleheader on Monday afternoon with the Pacific Lutheran University dropping a pair of games to Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark College on home soil. PLU fell short 1-0 in a pitchers' duel to open the day before coming up short 12-5 in the nightcap at PLU Field.
"The past couple weeks have been challenging to navigate with prepare and wait and it definitely has an impact that we should be able to overcome. We didn't have enough sides if the game connecting at the same time," said Head Coach
Traci Barrett. "Players are still learning what it takes for them to be prepared to be their best self even through the "waiting". I love that we are being tested right now so we can show who we are."
In game one, the visiting Pioneers (12-8, 6-6 NWC) led off the second inning with a double. Lewis & Clark would load the bases and score what turned out to be the contest's lone run on a wild pitch.
The Lutes (17-7, 9-3 NWC) threatened in the bottom of the third, loading the bases thanks to an
Erin McGrath walk, a
Kennedy Kila single, and a
Paola Garcia walk, but the Pios induced a popout to escape the inning unscathed. Lewis & Clark dodged another bullet in the fourth, turning a double play with the bases loaded to again deny the Lutes a chance to get on the scoreboard.
PLU had two runners on in the fifth and had the tying run on first base in the bottom of the seventh but came up empty handed on both occasions as Lewis & Clark escaped with the 1-0 win.
Cassidy Conrad suffered the loss inside the circle despite allowing just three hits and striking out three.
"Cassidy pitched a strong game. She definitely pitched well enough for us to win."
In the nightcap, an eight-run seventh inning sabotaged the Lutes, giving L&C the doubleheader sweep.
Lewis & Clark scored two runs in the first inning but PLU answered in the bottom of the third, getting an RBI single from
Casey Wright, and RBI double from
Kennedy Kila, and an
Anna Foster sacrifice fly to make it 3-2 PLU.
The Pioneers added runs in the fourth and fifth innings before McGrath belted a solo home run down the left field line to tie the game at 4-4.
Lewis & Clark cranked out seven hits and exploded for eight runs in the seventh inning, enjoying a 12-4 advantage heading into the game's final half inning.
A
Zoe Smithson pinch hit single scored
Cailey Collado but the Pios retired the next three batters to hold on for the win.
Eight Lutes finished with a base hit in the nightcap, including Collado who was two-for-three with two runs scored and
Mari Foster who collected a pair of base knocks.
Amaya Smith and
Jade Behic combined for nine strikeouts inside the circle. Behic was saddled with the decision, tossing 2 2/3 innings of middle relief after Smith logged the game's opening four innings.
"I'm looking forward to this week being together as a team and six more games. I was happy with our defense as whole without any errors, but we are better than we played today."
More midweek softball is on the docket for the Lutes who trek to Spokane on Thursday for a doubleheader against Whitworth University.
