TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran University softball team (17-11, 7-9 NWC) overcame a late deficit in game two, as Zoe Smithson's walk-off two-run double lifted to a Friday sweep, winning 8-2 and 5-4 over the Pacific University Boxers (5-19, 5-13 NWC).
 
GAME ONE
 
Sophomore ace Paige Wilson earned the start in game one on Friday, looking to continue her excellent season inside the circle for the Lutes; she comes off of a 1-0 loss where she threw eight-innings and didn't allow an earned run. Wilson struck out the side to begin Friday's double header.
 
In the home half of the first, catcher Bri Sarae led off with a single up the middle, where Syan Yamamoto and Kimara Blakely followed suit with a pair of singles to score three-runs. Brooke Tilson tripled to right-centerfield, scoring another to put the Lutes on top 4-0 early. The Lutes added on in the next inning, with Jaycie Simpliciano and Sarae hitting singles. Simpliciano scored on a throw to second as Sarae was stealing the base, giving the Lutes an early 5-0 cushion.
 
Wilson scattered two hits in the first four-innings of play, but the Boxers string together a pair of singles and a double, scoring two, cutting the Lutes lead to 5-2. Yamamoto doubled in the home half of the inning, scoring Doctor who reached on a fielder's choice, making it 6-2 Lutes through five.
 
Simpliciano and Sarae kept their bats hot in the sixth, as her Sarae's single scored the centerfielder. Zoe Smithson doubled, then scoring the pinch runner in Morgan Calcagno to put the Lutes up 8-2 heading into the final inning. Wilson struck out a pair before earning a groundout to end the game, giving the Lutes a dominant 8-2 win in the opening game of the series.
 
Sarae led the Lutes going 3-4 at the plate, driving in one run as well. Yamamoto and Jaycie Simpliciano each added two hits of their own, while Yamamoto and Blakely led with two runs batted in. Wilson went all seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits while setting a new career-high strikeouts with 13. The Lutes starter moves to 7-4 on the season.
 
GAME TWO
 
Rachel Treves got the start inside the circle in game two, stranding a runner on second in the first, before retiring the side in order in the second. Kamalani Doctor led off the home second with a single to the shortstop, scoring on a double by Brooke Tilson, putting the Lutes up 1-0 early.
 
Treves failed to allow a hit through the first four innings, but a leadoff double ended her streak of 11-straight batters sat down. The Boxers scored on a groundball to short, where the runner on third evaded Sarae's tag at home to tie the game up at 1-1.
 
Pacific put two runners in scoring position with one-out in the top of the sixth, where one pitch led to a home run, putting the Boxers up for the first time on Friday; 4-1. PLU answered immediately in the home half, as Sarae opened with a single, while Gutierrez wore a pitch, and Yamamoto reached on an error. Blakely's single down the left field line make it 4-3 Pacific heading into the seventh.
 
Treves escaped the seventh, stranding a runner on second, leaving the Lutes down to their final three outs. Emelia Maza led off with a single up the middle, where pinch runner Jaimee Cagle advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sarae singled to move Cagle to third, before Gutierrez's fielder's choice caught Cagle out in a run-down, but advancing two runners into scoring position. Smithson found her pitch, taking it deep off of the left-field wall, scoring both runners, and giving the Lutes a 5-4 walk-off win.
 
"Today we showed up with fight! Paige was dominant on the mound with 13 strike outs in game one!" Said Head Coach Traci Barrett.
 
"We've worked hard to get back to our offensive strengths and our hitters dialed it in just in time to get runners on base in an answer to their runs. Zoe Smithson's walk-off was fun, Bri Sarae and Brooke Tilson were an offensive strength for us and the defense was dialed! Championship mindset is one of our core covenants and the team decided to be us today!"
 
Sarae's bat was hot again in game two on Friday, going 2-4 at the plate, scoring two runs for the Lutes. Smithson drove in two with her lone hit of the game, coming at the right time, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to put the Lutes on top. Treves went all seven-innings, allowing four runs on four hits, while striking out three and walking a pair; she earned the hard-fought win, moving to 4-1 on the season.
 
The Lutes close out the series with the Boxers tomorrow on PLU Field, with game one beginning at 11 a.m.
 
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