LYNCHBURG, Va. --- The Pacific Lutheran Softball team continued their trip in Virginia on Friday, facing off in a doubleheader at Lynchburg University. The Hornets took both games from the Lutes, winning game one by a score of 3-0 and walking it off in game two, 4-3.
 
Game One
 
Rachael Rhinehart got the start in game one once again for the Lutes on Friday. The graduate transfer earned her second start in as many days; going the distance in yesterday's bout against Mary Washington. Rhinehart got her day started by sitting down the first three batters she faced with groundouts. The second inning began with a hit batter who eventually came around two score following a pair of singles by the Hornets; Lynchburg led 1-0 after two.
 
The Lutes remained hitless through the first four innings, reaching base just twice due to fielding errors. Leslie Main came in the top of the fifth to pinch hit for Kassidi Dean to which Main would hit a single through the infield, ending the no-hitter. Rhinehart maintained, scattering a handful of hits over the first 5 innings.
 
The bottom of the sixth began as Rhinehart walked two batters before giving up two singles and two runs to put the Hornets up 3-0. After five and a third innings, Rhinehart's day was done as she was relieved by Rachel Treves. Treves gave up one walk but ultimately retired two of the ladt three batters to get out of the inning unharmed.
 
In the final inning, the Lutes had Rylie Wada reach on an error and Abrye Kapana hit a pinch-hit single to right center before a Kimara Blakely strikeout could end any potential momentum gained by the Lutes. The Hornets shut-out the Lutes in game on their home turf, allowing just two hits for PLU.
 
Rhinehart was credited with the loss after her 5.2-inning outing, giving up seven hits and three earned runs on three walks and three strikeouts. Main and Kapana earned the only two hits for the Lutes on Friday morning. Molly House went just 0-1 after working two walks in the game.
 
Game Two
 
After going nine strong innings featuring 12 strikeouts on Thursday, freshman Paige Wilson got the nod in the game two of the Lutes second consecutive doubleheader. Wilson retired the first three batters she faced in game two, and the Lutes got their first hit of the game off the bat of Zoe Smithson in the first inning as she ripped a single to right centerfield.
 
The Lutes attacked once more in the top of the second, as Leslie Main's groundout brought Casey Wright home to put the Lutes ahead 1-0 early. The Hornets answered right back with a solo shot in the bottom of the second with just one out, knotting the game at 1-1.
 
The Lutes bats remained cold, not earning their second hit of the game until the fourth inning as Rylie Wada singled to left field. The fourth inning brought more Hornets runs, as a leadoff single would round the bases due to a wild pitch two batters later. The next pitch resulted in a solo home run, extending the Lynchburg lead to 3-0.
 
Paola Garcia opened the fifth with a single, which later resulted in a pitching change for the Hornets. This new pitcher was the key for the Lutes as Smithson ripped a double followed by a House single, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after five. Treves came in relief for the second game in a row, taking over for Wilson after four innings pitched. In the sixth, three consecutive Lutes earned walks followed by a fielding error off the bat of Garcia led to the Lutes tying the game once again at 3-3.
 
The bottom of the seventh opened with Lynchburg doubling off of the pitch from Treves. The Hornets would then hit two consecutive one-out singles to bring the lead runner home and earn the walk-off victory over the Lutes, 4-3.
 
The Lutes had five hits in game two, with two coming off the bat of Smithson who went 2-4 on the day. Garcia, House, and Main each earned one RBI on the day.
 
The Lutes head back down to Raleigh, N.C. to compete in one final east coast doubleheader as they face off against Oberlin College at 1 p.m. (ET) and William Peace University at 3 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, March 10^th.
 
To follow Lutes coverage all season long, please follow us on social media; PLU Athletics on Facebook, @GoLutes on X.com and Instagram.