TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University softball team mashed six home runs on the afternoon, including a walkoff winner from Rylie Wada in a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Conference rival Pacific University. Wada's heroics lifted the Lutes to a 4-3 win in the opener before breezing to the 7-3 victory in the nightcap.
 
"It was good to get back on track today. I was most pleased with our defense. Amaya and Cass pitched very well and kept minimal runners on base. It's always fun to see balls driven over the fence, that's the result of working to choose good pitches and putting barrel to ball," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.

Paola Garcia belted a pair of home runs in game one, giving the host Lutes (20-12, 12-8 NWC) an early 3-0 lead. Garcia hit a solo home run in the third inning before belting a two-run shot in the fifth inning.
 
The Boxers (6-22, 4-16 NWC) answered with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh to tie the game before Rylie Wada provided the walkoff winner, belting a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 4-3 win. 
 
PLU had just five hits in the game with four of those going for extra bases. Garcia led the way at the plate, going two-for-two with three RBIs.
 
Cassidy Conrad went the distance inside the circle to earn the win, striking out five and issuing just one walk. 
 
Kennedy Kila collected the Lutes' fourth home run of the day in the first inning of game two, scoring Erin McGrath and Mari Foster to give the hosts an early 3-0 advantage.
 
A Mari Foster double scored Cailey Collado in the bottom of the second before Casey Wright extended PLU's buffer to five with a solo home run in the third. The Lutes' continued to mash with Erin McGrath belting a two-run home run in the fourth, extending PLU's lead to 7-0. 

Pacific added three runs in the seventh but it was too little, too late, as the Lutes cruised to the doubleheader sweep.

Mari Foster was three-for-four with an RBI while Casey Wright was two-for-three in the nightcap.

Amaya Smith struck out two in the complete game effort inside the circle. 

"Rylie has been so great for us offensively all season, and her walk off HR was so fun! Paola Garcia's 2 HR before that were huge, and also great to see after a good week of work for her this week. Quality at bats guided our results in game 2."
 
The Lutes and Boxers finish off the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

"Looking forward to keeping it simple tomorrow and continue growing to be our best selves day to day."