TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran Softball team held their home opening doubleheader on Friday, hosting the George Fox Bruins and earned a split as the Lutes bats got hot and scored 16 runs in game two to outlast the Bruins.
 
Game One
 
Rachael Rhinehart got the start inside the circle for the Lutes home opener, sitting the Bruins down in order thanks to a pair of strikeouts. Casey Wright gave the Lutes their first hit of the game in the bottom of the first, but a strong lineout by Molly House would strand two Lutes in scoring position.
 
Rhinehart settled in through three innings and allowed just her first hit in the fourth on a soft single to the shortstop. A two-out home run would break up the 0-0 tie and put the Bruins up 2-0. George Fox extended their lead in the fifth, as a pair of throwing errors by the Lutes allowed two more runs to score.
 
PLU got on the board in the home half of the fifth inning, as sophomore Paola Garcia led off with a deep home run to right field. Catcher Casey Wright would match Garcia and also drive one deep to right and over the fence; after five, the Lutes trailed 4-2.
 
The top of the seventh provided some insurance runs for the Bruins, as two wild pitches from Rhinehart advanced Bruins runners into scoring position to with they would score on a sacrifice fly and an errant pitch.
 
The Bruins held on in the final inning and would go on to spoil the Lutes first home game of the season by a score of 6-2.
 
The Lutes offense was provided by Garcia and Wright whose back-to-back home runs were the lone runs for the Lutes in game one. The duo paired up for four of the Lutes nine total hits. Rhinehart went all seven innings inside the circle as she earned four runs on nine hits while striking out six.
 
Game Two
 
Sophomore Rachel Treves earned the game two start, as she quickly earned support from her offense who struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Paola Garcia advanced to second base as her infield single was stretched by a Bruins throwing error. Casey Wright added to her season total, as she drove Garcia in with a double to the right centerfield wall. Wright would score as Smithson's single to right field would put the Lutes up 2-0 after one.
 
The home half of the second brough more runs via the small ball. Wada opened the inning with a single and would score on a Garcia ground out to shortstop. Smithson earned her second RBI of the game on a single to shallow left field, scoring Megan Landes.
 
The Lutes 4-0 lead didn't last long though. George Fox rallied with two outs to score five-straight runs, thanks to two doubles and two two-run home runs; knocking Treves out of the game, for now. PLU would go on to tie the game at 5-5 with three consecutive singles in the bottom of the third.
 
Freshman Kaylee Grasko opened the fourth inning on the mound for the Lutes, allowing to wo walks, two singles, and a home run before Emma Ware would come in for relief. With no outs, George Fox cleared the loaded bases with singles through the infield that would get them out to a 11-5 lead and force the Lutes to put Emma Ware on the mound.
 
The Lutes offense answered the call once again, as a single from Brooke Tilson loaded the bases for Ware. Ware helped her own cause by driving a hit fly to right center, clearing the outfield wall for just her fourth home run of her career. Garcia would drive in yet another run on a single to centerfield, scoring pinch-runner Mattie Cheever.
 
With the Lutes on their heels, George Fox paired two more doubles and a deep shot over the outfield wall to extend their lead to 14-10. For the third time in the game, the Lutes responded to a huge inning from the Bruins with an even bigger one at the plate. Smithson led off with a walk followed by a pair of singles by Molly House and Tilson to score one. Ware would be hit by a pitch to load the bases for Wada to drive another in on a fielder's choice. A double by Landes and single by Garcia scored three more before a wild pitch scored Landes to give the Lutes a 16-14 lead.
 
The six-run fifth inning proved to be the dagger as the Treves entered the game once again inside the circle. Treves sat down the final six batters in order to give the Lutes their first home win of the season.
 
Ware got it done at the plate and inside the circle, as she was credited with her first win of the season meanwhile, she drove in four thanks to her grand slam. With 17 total hits for the Lutes as a team, they were led by Wada, Landes, and Garcia with three hits a piece. The Lutes worked nine walked in the six innings at the plate, featuring Smithson who walked three times to go with her two-for-two day.

"We are working to grow each day, let the process work through the things that are going well and adjust what we need to in order to get on the winning side of the game." Said Head Coach Traci Barrett.

"We did some good things in game 1, but so many times failed this year to get the timely hit. I loved how much of an adjustment we made in game 2 from pitch to pitch, pitcher to pitcher, inning to inning. We fought hard, and this team just showed each other what it's made. I was thrilled with adjustments made at the plate by Paola, Casey and Rylie. Brooke Tilson had some huge moments today on both sides of the ball and is growing as a leader in the infield. Megan Landes and Emma Ware were so clutch in game 2 to help us answer runs scored by our opponent in big ways. I am thrilled with the step forward we took to close the day and look forward to taking another step tomorrow."
 
The Lutes will look to bring their bats to tomorrow's doubleheader against the Bruins on PLU Field at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
 
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