TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University softball team earned the series win on Saturday, splitting a twinbill against Pacific University on a wet Saturday at PLU Field. The Lutes fell short 9-6 to the Northwest Conference rivals in the opener but rebounded in game two with a 5-2 win to close the series by winning three of the four games.
 
"From the start of game 1 today we had our backs against the wall . We also had opportunities to get things going and didn't," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.

"Our team knows the importance of every game and rather than make that a focus playing like US is all we need. Paola and Foss got the job done at the plate today with RBI's and clutch hits in game 2. Erin with a solo HR for the 5th run was huge."

The Boxers (7-23, 5-17 NWC) jumped to an early lead in game one, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning before adding three more in the second inning on a bases clearing single. Pacific pushed across another run in the fourth, building a 6-0 advantage. 
 
Paola Garcia got the Lutes (21-13, 13-9 NWC) on the board in the fourth inning, belting her third home run of the weekend, scoring Casey Wright to cut the deficit to 6-2.
 
Pacific kept its foot on the accelerator, adding three more in the top of the sixth. 
 
An Anna Foster sacrifice fly scored Arabella Perez in the sixth inning while Kennedy Kila drove in Mari Foster on another sac fly in the seventh. A Casey Wright single scored Rylie Wada before an Anna Foster single scored Erin McGrath, reducing the gap to just three. PLU had the tying run at the plate but a strikeout ended the Lute rally and gave Pacific the 9-6 win.
 
Wright finished the game three-for-three at the plate while Anna Foster was two-for-three with two RBIs. 
 
Kila was hit with the decision inside the circle, tossing the opening 1 2/3 innings. Jade Behic pitched the middle 3 2/3, collecting one strikeout while Rachel Treves finished the game, allowing no hits over the final 1 2/3. 
 
PLU wasted little time in game two, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. A Rylie Wada groundout scored Mari Foster for the game's opening run before a Garcia double to left field scored Wright and McGrath.
 
A Wada single in the second inning scored Cailey Collado, pushing the Lute advantage to 4-0.
 
Pacific closed the gap with single runs in both the third and fourth innings before McGrath hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, extending the Lute lead back to three runs to conclude the scoring.
 
 Mari Foster finished with three hits while Garcia was two-for-three with two RBIs. 
 
Cassidy Conrad earned her 10th win of the season inside the circle, going the distance and striking out five while allowing just one earned run. 
 
"Cassidy threw a gritty game 2 win with the most rainy conditions we've played in all season. I was so proud of her for staying in a 1 pitch at a time mentality. We only have 1 team to compete with right now and that's ourselves."

The Lutes remain return to the friendly confines of PLU Field on Wednesday, hosting Lewis & Clark College in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.