TACOMA, Wash. - It was another Friday afternoon sweep for the Pacific Lutheran University softball team. The Lutes cranked out 23 hits and scored 16 runs to steamroll crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound, winning the opener 11-2 before blanking the hosts 5-0 for the doubleheader sweep.
"Starting with our pitchers, it's fun to have our women working so hard all week and hitting our stride now as we head into our final series. Cass and Amaya combined for a great day in the circle. I love how they take whatever is given to them as a role for the day and work to be their best self. Both had some of their best innings this year today. Looking forward to stretching them more tomorrow," said Head Coach
Traci Barrett.
In game one a seven-run explosion in the second inning set the stage for a blowout victory.
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Cailey Collado RBI single opened the scoring binge in the second, allowing
Kennedy Kila to score for the game's opening run. A
Brooke Tilson single scored
Anna Foster before a
Mari Foster double cleared the bases, scoring
Rylie Wada, Collado, and Tilson to make it a 5-0 advantage. The Lutes (25-13, 17-9 NWC) offense continued its onslaught with
Casey Wright belting a two-run home run.
UPS pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the second but the Lutes kept their foot on the gas, adding two more in the third on a
Paola Garcia solo home run and a sacrifice fly from
Mari Foster.
The Loggers (9-21, 6-18 NWC) added a run of their own in the bottom of the third, making it 9-2 before PLU added two more in the fourth for the mercy-rule win. A Wada sacrifice fly scored
Mattie Cheever before a Tilson single to right field plated
Kayla Terlecki.
PLU finished with 13 hits with
Mari Foster finishing two-for-three with four RBIs while Kila, Garcia, Collado, and Tilson all finished with multiple hits.
Cassidy Conrad collected the win, allowing just five hits and issuing just one walk for the complete game.
The nightcap saw Wright score on an error in the first inning before Kila blasted a solo home run in the third inning to make it 2-0 PLU.
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Paola Garcia double scored Wada in the fourth inning before the Lute lead was stretched to 5-0 in the fifth with
Emma Ware hitting a double to left center field, scoring
Erin McGrath and Wright.
Wright finished two-for-four with two runs scored while Garcia was a perfect two-for-two with an RBI and a walk.
"Offensively, it was a great day putting runners on, executing quality at bats up and down the lineup in both games. Mari had some clutch moments in game 1 to add to a big inning as well as simply doing things the game is giving us. This team is so special with different players stepping up to help us win. P and Kila again with big hits in game 1 and 2. Casey with 2 hits and scoring twice in game 2 was huge as well. Emma ware with a big 2 RBI double gave even more run support for Amaya."
Conrad tossed the opening four innings of the nightcap and earned the win, her 13th of the season. The senior allowed just two hits and issued no walks while fanning two. All told, Conrad pitched in nine of the 12 innings on the day.
Amaya Smith earned the save, allowing just one hit and striking out six over the final three frames.
The wins mark the second straight Friday the Lutes have secured a doubleheader sweep. PLU downed Pacific University 4-3 and 7-3 last week en route to winning the series over the Boxers.
The Lutes and Loggers close out the series tomorrow at 11 a.m. at PLU Field. PLU will honor its four seniors and five super seniors prior to first pitch.
