Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran University softball team had a tough time keeping up with Linfield University on Sunday. The Lutes dropped the opening game 14-3 in five innings before falling 8-4 in the nightcap.
 
"It was a rough week for us," said PLU Head Coach Traci Barrett. I'm proud of the fight we showed in Game 2 of both days, but we have a lot to regain. I can't wait to see who rises to the occasion on our team. Zoe Smithson, Brooke Tilson, and Mattie Cheever really capitalized on opportunities today. I love their readiness and grit. Rylie Wada and Erin McGrath did a lot at the plate to consistently be on base and barrel up balls. It's hard to win games with as many freebies as we gave Linfield with eight walks and 12 runners left on base."
 
Game 1
The Wildcats scored seven runs in the second inning to blow open the first game of the doubleheader. After PLU answered with two runs in the third, Linfield matched with a solo tally in the bottom half and added six more in the fourth to take a commanding 14-2 lead and cruised into the finish line.
 
With two outs in the third, Kennedy Kila hit a solo home run to left field to get the Lutes on the board. Erin McGrath followed with a base hit and Casey Wright doubled her home. McGrath accounted for PLU's final run in the fifth as she hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Mari Foster.
 
Kila (5-2) took the loss after getting just four outs and allowing seven runs. McGrath finished the first game 2-for-2 with a RBI to lead the offense.
 
Game 2
PLU and Linfield were tied 1-1 after the first inning in the second game of the day, but the Wildcats scored four times in the second and three more times in the third to build an insurmountable 8-1 advantage. The Lutes tried to rally with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, but it wouldn't be enough.
 
With the bases loaded and one out, Zoe Smithson got things rolling in the opening inning with a base hit to left, but PLU would leave them loaded as the Wildcats got the next two batters in succession. That would be the story of the game for the Lutes as they left a runner in scoring position in six out of seven innings.
 
Trailing 8-5 in the fifth, Rylie Wada's infield single scored Wright and with two down Brooke Tilson singled in Smithson to cut the advantage to 8-3 in favor of the home team. Wright drove in pinch-runner Kayla Terlecki on a popup to second base to make it 8-4 in the sixth, but the visitors would get no closer.
 
Cassidy Conrad (8-5) took the loss after giving up all eight runs in 2.2 innings. Sophomore Amaya Smith was a bright spot as she kept the Lutes in it over the final 3.1 innings. Smith allowed just one hit and one walk in her 10-out appearance. PLU had 12 hits in Game 2, with Foster and Tilson having three each. Wada also had a pair to pace the attack.
 
Despite dropping all four games over the weekend to Linfield, the Lutes still sit in fourth place of the Northwest Conference standings. PLU (18-12, 10-8 NWC) will look to stem the tide when it hosts Pacific for a four-game series, beginning Friday at 12:00 p.m.