TACOMA, Wash. — A rainy day couldn't dampen the Pacific Lutheran University softball team's offense on Saturday afternoon. The Lutes exploded for 22 runs over the course of the day, spoiling University of Puget Sound's senior day with a doubleheader sweep to wrap up the regular season. PLU took the opener 9-2 before rallying to an 13-4 victory in the nightcap, extending the program's win streak to 13 games. 
 
The opener was scoreless until the fourth inning with Brooke Tilson belting a two-out single to score both Mattie Cheever and Rylie Wada. Tilson would score later in the inning courtesy of a Zoe Smithson triple, giving the visiting Lutes (23-17, 18-10 Northwest Conference) a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Loggers (7-29, 5-23 NWC) whittled the gap to just a single run in the fourth inning, scoring two, but the Lutes wouldn't let UPS get any closer, adding an insurance run on a Wada single in the top of the fifth before exploding for five runs in the sixth inning.
 
Kassidi Dean sparked the scoring binge in the sixth with a single up the middle to score Tilson. A Casey Wright single to right field scored Syan Yamamoto before a bases loaded double from Paola Garcia added three more to make it 9-2. 
 
Tilson finished three-for-four in game one with two RBIs and two runs scored. Wada was two-for-three with two runs scored in a game that saw eight Lutes reach on a base hit.
 
Paige Wilson did the heavy lifting inside the circle, striking out four and allowing two runs in six innings of work. Molly House tossed one inning of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit.
 
Game two saw the Lutes again strike first with Wada scoring on a Logger fielding error in the top of the third. Puget Sound answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, including a solo home run to take a 3-1 lead.
 
PLU reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning, pouring on six runs. Leslie Main tied the game with a two-RBI single to left field, scoring Cheever and Garcia before an Arabella Perez single put the Lutes back in the driver's seat, driving in Tilson and Yamamoto. Wright kept things rolling with a single up the middle to score two more, making it a 7-3 Lute edge.
 
A House sacrifice fly and another Perez RBI single made it 10-3 in the sixth inning before Brookelyn Gutierrez, House, and Kamalani Doctor all drove in runs in the seventh inning, boosting the Lute advantage to 13-3. 
 
Puget Sound pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough to sway the final outcome as the Lutes cruised to the win, sweeping their third straight NWC series. 
 
11 Lutes recorded a hit with Tilson leading the way going three-for-four with two runs scored. Perez was two-for-two with four RBIs while also drawing two walks. 
 
Rachel Rhinehart and House combined for six strikeouts on the day. Rhinehart fanned four and issued just one walk in 2 1/3 innings of action while House logged 4 2/3 innings inside the circle with two punchouts while allowing just four hits.
 
"We're so blessed by the seniors and loved every moment of celebrating them. They all stepped up in big ways on and off the field," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.
 
"Kassidi Dean locked down third base and was a tough out as well as Arabella Perez with 4 RBI's in today's games! So fun to see! Brooke Tilson was a bright spark and really tough out in all 4 games. Leslie Main came into game two today and tied up the 3-1 logger lead with a 2 RBI single."
 
"All our pitchers did a great job locking down the circle and minimizing moments that could have gone another direction. Lots of fight and togetherness all weekend. Love this team so much!"

PLU's win streak, now at 13 games, is the program's longest since ripping off 13 to close out the 2004 season. 
 
The Lutes head to double elimination Northwest Conference Tournament as the number three seed and will face second-seed Lewis & Clark College in the opening round of games on Friday in McMinnville, Ore.

"Looking ahead to next weekend we will approach it with a 1-0 mentality."