COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Pacific Lutheran University softball squad split its final doubleheader at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Sunday. The Lutes buzzed College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) 7-5 to open the day but saw its three-game win streak come to a halt in the nightcap with Wartburg College (Iowa) stealing a 13-12 walkoff victory.
 
"We had a very offensive weekend. We definitely have some defense that we need to clean up but we're extremely pleased with the play of our entire infield," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.

"Syan was a really tough out at the top of the lineup all weekend. Brooke held down the shortstop position and had a great offensive showing as well. Brookelyn hit a grand slam in that last game and was lockdown third base game one and took some hits away."

The Bennies struck first in game one, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. The Lutes (4-2) responded in the bottom of the frame, getting a two-run home run from Kamalani Doctor, scoring Zoe Smithson and tying the game before a Rachel Treves solo shot put PLU ahead 3-2.

Saint Benedict tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the second inning but a base knock from Doctor in the third scored Syan Yamamoto, followed by RBI singles from both Kimara Blakely and Jaimee Cagle to make it 6-3 PLU.
 
The Bennies narrowed the gap to a single run in the fourth inning but Doctor padded the Lute lead in the fifth, belting her fourth home run of the season to make it 7-5. 

Doctor was a one-woman wrecking crew against CSB, going three-for-three at the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored. 
 
Rachael Rhinehart earned the win inside the circle, pitching six innings and striking out five while allowing just two earned runs. 

Game two saw the Lutes race out to an 8-0 lead in the first inning but Wartburg battled back, scoring eight runs over the final two innings, including a walkoff hit to secure the win.

Smithson got things going for the Lutes with a two-run home run, part of an eight-run outburst that saw Emelia Maza hit an RBI single, Brookelyn Gutierrez blast a grand slam and Yamamoto hit a solo home run. 
 
The Knights scratched across three runs in the bottom of the first before adding two more in the third, making it an 8-5 ballgame. 

Doctor delivered her fifth home run of the weekend in the fourth inning while a Blakely two-RBI single and a Maza RBI single made it 12-5 PLU in the top of the sixth. 

Unfortunately for the Lutes, Wartburg's offense wasn't done. The Knights scored six in the sixth, including three solo home runs, before pushing across two in the seventh, including a walkoff single to claim the win.

PLU cranked out 15 hits in the nightcap with Yamamoto and Maza both finishing with a trio of hits. Blakely, Megan Landes, and Gutierrez all had a pair of hits. 

Paige Wilson pitched the opening 5 1/3 innings for the Lutes, striking out five on the day.
 
"We're super proud of this team this weekend. We think that there is definitely a feeling of 'wow what can we do this year?' And we're excited to see where we go from here."
 
Doctor, who had five home runs over the six games, was named to the All-Tournament Team. 

PLU is back on the East Coast next weekend, playing six games at the Spring Games in Leesburg, Florida. That tournament begins next Friday with games against North Central College (Ill.) and Roger Williams University (R.I.). 
 
"Things are starting to shape up so I'm really excited to see what this week holds and look forward to Florida next weekend."