TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran University softball team (15-9, 5-7 NWC) earned a series split against the Lewis & Clark Pioneers (22-4, 14-2 NWC), thanks to a walk-off 9-8 win in the series finale, behind Mya Grado's game-tying home run and walk-off single.
 
GAME ONE
 
Junior Rachel Treves got the start for the Lutes in Sunday's opener, her sixth start of the season. The Lutes starter sat the Pios down in order in the first, but she ran into trouble in the second, as a double and two singles helped Lewis & Clark take an early 2-0 lead.
 
The Pioneers extended their lead in the third, thanks to a single and two consecutive doubles, climbing out to a 4-0 lead. The Lutes scattered four hits through the first four innings, but were unable to find the clutch hit. In the fifth, Kamalani Doctor loaded in the bases with one-out on a single to left field. Kimara Blakely brought in Jaycie Simpliciano (reached on dropped third strike) on a sacrifice fly to deep center field, making it a 4-1 game through five.
 
PLU managed just one hit over the final two innings, as Treves was relieved on the mound after the sixth, by freshman Maiya Anderson. Anderson struck out two batters in her one inning of work, but the Lutes comeback fell short in Sunday's opener, as the Pios earned a 4-1 win in the morning game.
 
Brookelyn Gutierrez led the way with two of the Lutes six total hits, and Treves moves to 3-1 on the season after going six-innings and allowing 10 hits, four runs, and striking out three.
 
GAME TWO
 
Paige Wilson returned inside the circle for the Lutes in game two, looking to remake her win from yesterday's series opener. Wilson dominated the first two frames, retiring the Pioneers down in order.
 
The Lutes bats woke up in the home half of the second inning, as Ashleighn McAuley drove in Kamalani Doctor who led-off the inning with a single past the third baseman. Freshman Mya Grado brought in the pinch runner in Morgan Calcagno with a double to deep right-centerfield; putting the Lutes up 2-0 early.
 
Wilson's clean scoresheet came to an end in the road fourth, as the Pios executed timely small-ball tactics with one-out to take a 3-2 lead over the Lutes. Lewis & Clark extended this lead in the next inning, as a solo home run, single, and triple knocked Wilson out of the game, and gave the Pioneers 6-2 lead. Maiya Anderson once again came in relief for Traci Barrett's squad, escaping the jam with no further damage.
 
Brooke Tilson responded with a one-out double, where she would later score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Gutierrez, cutting the deficit to three. In the home sixth, the Pios made a pitching change to their ace, who had been dealt the loss in the series opener on Saturday. After Doctor worked a walk, sophomore Riley Smith came in to pinch-hit with two outs, ripping an RBI-double for the first hit of her PLU career, in just her second-ever at-bat. With Smith keeping the line moving, she paved the way for Grado to send a ball out of the park, bouncing off the top of the fence, tying the game up at 6-6. Tilson doubled once again, forcing the Pios to go back to their starter from earlier in the game. Bri Sarae drove in Tilson to give the Lutes a 7-6 lead, putting the Pios backs against the wall.
 
Down to their final strike, Lewis & Clark hit a double that led to a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the seventh; making it 8-7 Pios with the Lutes down to their final three outs.
 
Doctor led off the home seventh with a triple past the diving left fielder, which she scored on a Blakely single, tying the game back up at 8-8 with no outs. McAuley's sacrifice bunt advanced pinch-runner Simpliciano not only to second, but also third base on a heads-up play by Simpliciano. Grado come through in the clutch once again, slapping a single to right field, scoring Simpliciano and giving the Lutes a walk-off 9-8 victory, erasing two late-inning deficits.
 
Erasing a three-run deficit, Grado's three hits and four runs batted in, contributed a large part to the Lutes 15 total hits. Sarae also went 3-4 at the plate, as eight-different Lutes earned base knocks in the series finale. PLU's five doubles, one triple, and one home run, helped reliever Maiya Anderson earn her first win of her career, moving her record to 1-1; she went 2.2-innings, allowing two runs on two hits, while walking one and striking out three.

"It was a pair of tough battles for us today. The girls showed grit and fight in Game two. I am proud of their resilience and their heart." Said Head Coach Traci Barrett

"A lot of players stepped up and owned their moment. Mya Grado came in clutch with a huge home run and a walk off single to seal it. Our pitching staff worked together and battled through some tough spots all day. We've got work to do, but I'm proud of this group and the direction we are heading."
 
Softball remains in the hunt for NWC Tournament-berth with still 14 conference games left to play, sitting in fourth while Lewis & Clark trails only Linfield, sitting in second place.
 
The Lutes make up a pair of rain-out games against Willamette on the road this Tuesday, as they will head to Salem for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
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