MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University softball team's high-octane offense went silent on Friday evening, coming up short 3-0 to George Fox University in the opening round of the 2023 Northwest Conference Tournament at Del Smith Stadium.
 
"It's always so funny in this game when you have great preparation and don't put that into what the seven innings of that game showed," said Head Coach Traci Barrett. 
 
"Cass threw a great game but we gave too much away for free and didn't produce at the plate. You can't expect to win doing that."
 
The good news is we get to come back tomorrow. The biggest adjustment we need to make is refusing to let one part of the game carry into another. This team isn't ready to be done, I know that and can't wait for us to show that tomorrow."
 
The second-seeded Lutes (26-15) stranded six runners on base during the game, including leaving three in scoring position. PLU will face fourth-seeded Whitworth University on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
 
Friday's clash was a pitcher's duel between the Lute ace Cassidy Conrad and the Bruins' (26-15) Ashley Davis. PLU appeared to have Davis on the ropes in the bottom of the first with Kennedy Kila drawing a leadoff walk. Pinch runner Mattie Cheever advanced to third on a Paola Garcia single to center field while Garcia stole second to get in scoring position but a fly out ended the inning with no runs to show for the effort.
 
The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning with George Fox scoring a run on a sacrifice fly and a fielding error to stake a 2-0 lead. Another sacrifice fly by the third-seeded Bruins pushed their cushion to 3-0 in the seventh inning in what turned out to be the final run of the night.
 
PLU attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh with Rylie Wada belting a leadoff double but two fly outs and a strike out allowed the Bruins to escape with the win.
 
Garcia finished two-for-three on the day to place the Lutes who finished with four hits on the game. 
 
Conrad tossed all seven innings inside the circle, striking out four and yielding just four base hits.