TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran University softball team (14-8, 4-6 NWC) earned a split in the opening pair of games against the conference-leading Lewis & Clark College Pioneers (21-3, 13-1 NWC), handing the Pios their first loss of Northwest Conference play, 8-1 in game one.
 
GAME ONE
 
Sophomore Paige Wilson got start inside the circle for the Lutes in game one, coming off of her second no-hitter of the season in her last outing, earning her NWC Softball Pitcher of the Week honors.
 
Wilson stumbled out of the gate, walking two batters and hitting another to load the bases in the opening frame. The Pios went on to score one on a sacrifice fly to right, taking a 1-0 lead without recording a hit.
 
The Pios maintained their lead until the bottom of the third, where catcher Bri Sarae hit a one-out single before Zoe Smithson walked. Kamalani Doctor drove in Sarae with a double, knotting the game up at 1-1. But first baseman Kimara Blakely ripped a deep home run to left field, soaring well over the fence to put the Lutes ahead 4-1.
 
Two innings later, Brooklyn Gutierrez and Mya Grado reached safely, with Grado stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error by the Pios catcher, which also scored Gutierrez. Ashleighn McAuley drove in Grado with a pinch-hit double, before Brooke Tilson singled and stole second base. Jaycie Simpliciano drove the two Lutes in with a single up the middle, putting the Lutes ahead 8-1 after five.
 
Wilson continued her dominance on the mound after settling in from her first inning of work. She went the full seven innings, scattering just three hits to earn her sixth win of the season and second straight win. The sophomore pitcher has just allowed eight hits combined over her last four starts and 19.2 innings pitched.
 
The Lutes gave the Pios their first loss of conference play and third on the season in the series opener, thanks to two hits each from Grado, Gutierrez, and Sarae. Blakely led the team with three runs batted in from her go-ahead home run, while Zoe Smithson drew three walks.
 

GAME TWO
 
Graduate student Rachael Rhinehart got the starting nod in game two on Saturday, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the first frame to keep the game scoreless. The Lutes struck first this time, in the home half of the first inning, as Sarae came around to score on a double off the bat of Kamalani Doctor, taking a 1-0 lead.
 
Lewis & Clark found their first hit of the game in the top of the fourth, four consecutive singles scored a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. The Lute bats went cold though, scattering a pair of hits, but never able to get into scoring position in the final four innings, leveling the series at one game a-piece in a 2-1 loss on Saturday afternoon.
 
Rhinehart went all seven innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs, while striking out four and walking two; she moves to 4-3 on the season. Doctor accounted for two of the Lutes four total hits in the game, also driving in the lone RBI for PLU.
 
The Lutes finish the series against Lewis & Clark tomorrow morning at 11 a.m., with the series finale set for 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at PLU Field.
 
To follow Lutes coverage all season long, please follow us on social media; PLU Athletics on Facebook, @GoLutes on X.com and Instagram.