TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran Softball team won their first home series of the season on Sunday as they defeated the Willamette Bearcats in both games thanks to a Zoe Smithson walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth of game one.
 
Game One
 
Sophomore Rachel Treves pitched her second straight game for the Lutes, as she handled the start in yesterday's game two before taking the mound in game one on Sunday. Both starters got settled in early, allowing just one hit a piece in the second inning but holding the score at 0-0. Following the first inning, the teams settled in the dugouts for a 45-minute rain delay.
 
The storm had passed and the Bearcats put a crooked number on the board in the top of the fourth inning, finally putting a blemish on Treves' start. As the leadoff batter walked, the next batter ripped one over the left field fence to put Willamette up 2-0. The Bearcats further extended their lead in the fifth after a pair of singles and a fielder's choice put runners on first and third with just one out. As the runner on first stole second and forced a throw, the runner on third scored, giving Willamette a 3-0 lead.
 
Kaylee Gresko came in to relieve Treves in the top of the seventh after the starter let up consecutive singles with two outs. Gresko walked her first two batters on eight-straight balls, leading to Head Coach Traci Barrett putting in senior Molly House on the mound. House's one pitch led to a fly out, getting the Lutes out of the inning only trailing 4-0.
 
With just one hit through the first six innings and down to their final three outs, the Lutes opened the final frame with two straight singles. Now the pitcher of one-third inning, House came up to the plate and ripped a deep drive over the left field wall, making it a 4-3 ballgame with no outs. Emma Ware singled for the second time in the game with one out, which led to a Syan Yamamoto walk and Wada fielder's choice. Jaycie Simpliciano beat out a slow roller to the shortstop, scoring Ware and knotting the game up at 4-4 heading into extra innings.
 
House managed her way through the top of the eighth without allowing any runs, allowing Zoe Smithson to bat for the Lutes as the winning-run. Smithson sent the 3-1 pitch high and well over the centerfield wall, giving the Lutes a 5-4 win after trailing 4-0 through six innings.
 
House earned her second win of the season, improving to 2-0, as she went just one and one-third innings allowing just one hit. Smithson and Ware led the Lutes at the plate with two hits each, accounting for four of the Lutes seven hits in the game.
 
Game Two
 
With the series win on the line, graduate transfer Rachael Rhinehart looked to add another tally to the win column. The veteran pitcher allowed a two-out double in the first but got out of the jam after fielding a come-back groundball right at the mound.
 
Following a 1-2-3 second inning from Rhinehart, the Lutes immediately gave their pitcher immense run support. Senior Molly House led off the inning doing what she did to help the Lutes win game one, ripping a home run to left field. With Garcia, Yamamoto, and Simpliciano reaching base safely, senior catcher Casey Wright showed her power with a home run to deep left centerfield, putting the Lutes up 6-0 early in the game.
 
Through four innings, Rhinehart allowed just one hit and only three total baserunners, as the Lutes added on in the home half of the fourth, as Paola Garcia's double to left centerfield drove in three Lutes. PLU loaded the bases after Rylie Wada, Zoe Smithson, and Molly House all worked walks.
 
With a 9-0 lead entering the fifth, the Lutes entered mercy-rule territory, as Rhinehart kept her strong outing going, slamming the door shut on any chance of a comeback. The Lutes would earn their second victory of the day and third of the weekend in a 9-0 win in five innings.
 
Lutes hitters found their way onto the bases, with six hits in the ball game, Garcia was responsible for two herself, driving in three in the process. Wright's home run accounted for three runs on her one swing as well. Rhinehart added another win to her resume, going five strong and throwing just 53 pitches to 18 batters faced. With three strikeouts and one walk, the starter dealt with minimal base runners in her outing.
 
"I'm so proud of the way the team bounced back and braved all the elements of a northwest weekend of softball!" Said Head Coach Traci Barrett following the Lutes two wins on Sunday.
 
"From one day to the next the girls rallied and did all the little things we've been working on and came together with united intent! So much impact of today's results I don't want to leave anyone out… truly a whole team effort and it was felt from pitch one of game one!"
 
"Molly House was unstoppable at crucial times today and was so amazing in the circle having Rachel Treves back, who had a solid outing today. I was pleased with our defensive effort all day. Zoe Smithson is such a bright light on this team and her bat came through again! Amazing game 1 walk off Home Run! Rachael Rhinehart had a dominate performance today. Really tough in the circle!"

"I love how we made an adjustment to a pitcher we struggled with yesterday in game two. Molly House homered again to get us on the board, as did Casey Wright. Paola Garcia was a tough out and ended the day with Casey at 3 RBI's each. Love their next pitch mentality! Back to work this week!"
 
The Lutes will take their winning momentum into next weekend where they hit the road once again, taking on Lewis & Clark in a four-game series in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday April 13^th and Sunday, April 14^th.
 
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