TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran University softball team faced their toughest test yet in No.2 Linfield on Friday afternoon in their home opener; unable to catch the Wildcats in an offensive battle. Linfield took game one, 15-6.
 
The 2^nd-ranked team in Division III Linfield Wildcats struck first in the top of the first inning, driving in one on a one-out sacrifice fly. Although, in the home half, Zoe Smithson kept her bat warm after winning Northwest Conference's Offensive Player of the Week honors, ripping a solo shot to deep left field to knot the game at 1-1 through one.
 
Starter Paige Wilson held the Wildcats bats silent for the next three innings, until a two-out home run put Linfield back up 3-1 in the fourth. They later extended their lead in the fifth, driving in six runs on six hits off of Wilson; four of which coming with two-outs in the inning.
 
Syan Yamamoto and Smithson helped the Lutes the home fifth with a pair of singles, opening the door for Kamalani Doctor to score both with a one-out single, making it 9-3 after five. To open the sixth, freshman Maiya Anderson made her home-debut, replacing Wilson inside the circle. She worked a pair of fly-outs, but another two-out rally by Linfield tallied three runs, putting the Lutes down 12-3.
 
Answering the call, the Lutes worked the bases loaded with no-outs in the home half of the sixth, where Brookelyn Gutierrez drove in two with a single up the middle; which Brooke Tilson would later score on a wild pitch during the next at bat, making it 12-6 Linfield through six.
 
The Wildcats added three runs in the top of the final inning, then shut the door on the Lutes comeback hopes in the bottom half, taking the Lutes home opener, 15-6.
 
Smithson had the best day at the plate, going 3-4, scoring two runs, and knocking in one RBI; herself, from her solo home run in the first inning. Meanwhile, Gutierrez and Doctor each drove in a pair of runs. Wilson was credited with her second loss of the season, going five innings, allowing nine earned runs while striking out two.
 
"Today we had a lot of fight. We had a strong start and when they scored, we answered. I thought we did a good job of staying pitch-to-pitch for four innings in that game." Said Head Coach Traci Barrett following Friday's game.
 
"Unfortunately, the two innings that we weren't ourselves allowed our opponent to capitalize. Zoe did a great job of staying in her at-bats, fighting off pitches, getting herself on time, and then that continued throughout the rest of the game as well."
 
 "Brookelyn Gutierrez had a phenomenal day at the plate and in the field. Looking forward to getting in three more games this weekend and skirting around the rain. I love the fight in this team."
 
The Lutes series against the Wildcats continues throughout the weekend, with two games scheduled for Saturday at Noon and 2 p.m., before an 11 a.m. finale on Sunday.
 
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