FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Rachael Rhinehart tossed a no-hitter, powering the Pacific Lutheran University softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Conference rival Pacific University on Saturday afternoon. Rhinehart perplexed Boxer batters in a 5-0 victory in the opener before a late run gave the Lutes a 7-6 victory in the nightcap. 
 
"Rachael Rhinehart really commanded the circle in game one! It was the first career no hitter for her and was so fun to see," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.
 
 "The defense behind her was a huge factor. P with an amazing diving play and the final out by Leslie Main was so clutch!"
 
It was the Rachael Rhinehart show in the opener with the southpaw tossing the program's 32^nd no-hitter and the first since Elli Rassbach's gem also against Pacific back on Feb. 25, 2017. 
 
Rhinehart struck out seven, issued four walks, while inducing 10 groundouts and four fly-outs. 
 
PLU's (13-17, 8-10 NWC) offense made it easy on Rhinehart, plating five runs over the opening two innings. Casey Wright led off the game with a walk, later scoring on a Boxer error. 
 
An Emma Ware double scored Brooke Tilson to make it 2-0 in the top of the second inning. Ware would score the next at-bat thanks to a Leslie Main base knock. A Rylie Wada single scored Main before another Pacific error allowed Kamalani Doctor to touch home plate, making it 5-0. 
 
Three of PLU's seven hits in the game came off the bat of Wada who was three-for-four with an RBI. 
 
PLU scored the opening six runs of game two but needed a late run in the seventh to escape with the win and the sweep. 
 
Brooke Tilson got the Lutes rolling in the top of the first, hitting a two RBI single.
 
Wright belted a solo home run in the second inning before a Ware double made it 4-0. PLU would plate two more runs thanks to a Tilson double.
 
The Boxers (7-21, 3-13 NWC) scored three in the second and added three more in the fifth to knot the score at 6-6. 
 
Main led off the seventh with a double and later scored the winning run on an error by a Boxer infielder. The Lutes retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the one-run win. 
 
PLU had 10 hits in game two with Ware leading the way with a three-for-five effort with two runs scored. Tilson was two-for-three with four RBIs while Wright had a pair of hits. 
 
"Offensively I was pleased with our start in both games. Tomorrow we will work to be simpler and come through with adjustments faster to put more runs up through the middle frames! Brooke Tilson, Casey Wright, Rylie Wada were tough to keep off base all day! We had some great clutch moments by Brooke Tilson and Leslie Main in the final game to put us ahead in the seventh for Paige Wilson to close us out!  Paige was back in full force today after a long injury. So fun seeing her do well for our team. The dugout was a huge factor in the day with energy and great momentum help!"
 
Paige Wilson earned the win inside the circle, pitching 4 2/3 innings and striking out five. 
 
The Lutes and Boxers resume the series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.