ORANGE, Calif. --- The Pacific Lutheran Softball team completed their season-opening road trip on Sunday, dropping both games to the Panthers by scores, 3-2.
 
Game One
 
Graduate transfer Rachael Rhinehart made her second start inside the circle for the Lutes on Sunday. The Woodinville, Wash. native earned the win in yesterday's close win in the second game against La Verne. This time, Rhinehart went the full six innings, allowing eight hits and earning two runs while walking one and striking out two.
 
Chapman got on the board first in the bottom of the first frame after a pair of singles made it a 1-0 ballgame early. The Panthers added to their lead in the second inning with a leadoff single followed by a two-out double to left-center. From here, Rhinehart would settle into her start.
 
The Lutes finally broke the ice on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, thanks to a long one-out rally. Emma Ware got it started with a single, to which Casey Wright would double down the left field line. Kassidi Dean drew a walk that would load the bases for Brooke Tilson. Tilson executed on a two-RBI single through the right side, tying the game up at 2-2. Syan Yamamoto grounded back to the pitcher, but the runner would be out at home, and Yamamoto would reach on an error.
 
The deciding inning for the Panthers came in the home half of the sixth, where they reached on a fielding error at second base and a pair of sacrifice plays would put the runner in scoring position. A Chapman single down the left field line scored what eventually became the game-winning run. The Lutes dropped the early game on Sunday, 3-2.
 
Rhinehart was credited with her second loss of the season (1-2), meanwhile the Lutes matched the Panthers in hits (8) and errors (1). Wright and Tilson led for the Lutes with two hits apiece. Tilson added the lone two runs batted in for PLU.
 
Game Two
 
Freshman Paige Wilson earned her third start of the weekend on Sunday, with her sights set on picking up where she left off, where she earned a complete-game win in a 10-4 nine-inning victory over La Verne.
 
The Lutes struck first in game two, as Kamara Blakely drove in Paola Garcia with a one-out single to center field.
 
But the Panthers answered shortly after in the bottom of the second, playing small ball following a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt and an RBI single tied the game at 1-1. But a sacrifice fly gave the Panthers their first lead of the game, holding a 2-1 advantage after two.
 
Freshman Kaylee Gresko came in to relieve Wilson in the bottom of the fifth inning, sitting down two of the first three hitters she faced. The fourth doubled down the left line to score the lone runner and extend the Chapman lead to 3-1.
 
Wright's bat stayed hot, as she doubled to left field in the sixth, which set up a pinch-hit single by Leslie Main, scoring Wright and making it a 3-2 game. Tilson reached on a fielders choice later in the inning that resulted in Wada being tagged out at home while trying to tie the game back up.
 
The Lutes would go hit less for the final four outs of the game, giving the Panthers their second 3-2 victory of the day.
 
Kassidi Dean had two of the Lutes seven hits, once against the Lutes matched the Panthers in hits with seven. Wilson is credited with the second loss of her young career. Wright was the best hitter for the Lutes in opening weekend, going 9-for-19 with two doubles, two home runs, and six runs batted in.
 
The Lutes return home for the week before heading back out on the road next weekend, competing in another six games over three days in Raleigh, N.C.
 
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