SPOKANE, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran University softball team (21-13, 11-11 NWC) got back on track on Saturday afternoon in Eastern Washington, taking the first two games of a four-game series over the Whitworth Pirates (5-27, 5-17 NWC).
 
GAME ONE
 
Kamalani Doctor and the Lutes offense wasted no time on Saturday afternoon, as the Lutes outfielder drove in Zoe Smithson with a one-out double in the first inning. Doctor and Brookelyn Gutierrez scored later in the inning on a wild pitch and a single by Brooke Tilson, putting the Lutes up 3-0 early.
 
Whitworth's lone hit of the game came with two-outs in the first inning, as the single baserunner was stranded; the only baserunner the Pirates would have in game one. PLU added more runs to their total in the second inning, as Ashleighn McAuley drove in a pair with a single to right field. Gutierrez brought in another with a single at the third baseman. Through two frames, the Lutes led 6-0 over Whitworth.
 
Freshman catcher Bri Sarae drove in Emelia Maza an inning later with a double down the third-base line, further adding to the Lutes big lead. As Wilson continued to sit down batter after batter, Mya Grado led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run, making it 8-0 Lutes and putting the Pirates in mercy-rule territory. Wilson ended the game with a streak of 13-straight batters sat down, as she pitched to contact, striking out three on her way to the Lutes five-inning victory to begin the series.
 
Tilson had two of the Lutes eight total hits, driving in one. McAuley's two-RBI single helped her to a team-high in runs batted in. Seven of the Lutes nine starters in the lineup had at-least one hit, but the game was cut short in part due to Wilson's dominant start inside the circle. The Lutes starter threw a complete-game (five innings) one-hitter, striking out three while throwing just 59 pitches; Wilson moves to 9-5 on the season.
 
GAME TWO
 
Rachel Treves was named the Lutes starter in the second game of Saturday's double header, although three singles in the home half of the first gave the Pirates an early 1-0 lead. Whitworth extended their total in the second with a single and a double, making it 2-0 Pirates early; ending the starting outing for Treves inside the circle.
 
With the Lutes bats finding just one hit in the first four-innings, Maiya Anderson came in to relieve Treves inside the circle, scattering two hits through her first two innings of work. PLU came alive on offense in the top of the fifth, as Jaycie Simpliciano led off with a single to right, following by a Sarae single, and a Smithson three-run shot to give the Lutes a 3-2 lead with no outs. Doctor and McAuley made it five-straight hits for the Lutes, before Gillian Renzullo drove one in on a ground out to second base; the Lutes four runs now put them ahead 4-2.
 
Anderson worked her way out of a two-runner jam in the fifth, escaping with no harm done. The game one starter, Paige Wilson, slammed the door shut on the Pirates in game two, as she got the final six outs of the game, earning the save, and also giving the Lutes the Saturday sweep; 4-2 in game two.
 
Sarae and Smithson's two hit a-piece accounted for four the Lutes seven hits in game two, with Smithson's three-run homer proving to be the difference maker. Although they stranded nine runners on the base paths, they managed to strike out just three times, while earning four walks. Anderson notched her second win of her career, while Wilson picked up her first save of the season. Wilson threw a total of seven-innings, allowing no runs on three hits, striking out four, and not allowing any free passes.
 
"It was fun to see us ready to go at the start of game one today and our pitching staff combined for two great wins! Paige Wilson with another phenomenal game one hit win and then also coming in to close out game two Zoe Smithson with the big hit to put us ahead in game two after a few open frames. Also an awesome pinch hit scoring another run by Gillian Renzullo! I love the energy that we started the game with and when we've stalled a little bit offensively that energy brought us back into the game. Looking forward to two games tomorrow bringing the same energy and team Mindset!
 
"It was fun to see us ready to go at the start of game one today and our pitching staff combined for two great wins!" Said Head Coach Traci Barrett
 
"Paige Wilson with another phenomenal game, a one-hit win and then also coming in to close out game two. Zoe Smithson with the big hit to put us ahead in game two after a few open frames. Also, an awesome pinch hit scoring another run by Gillian Renzullo!"
 
"I love the energy that we started the game with and when we've stalled a little bit offensively that energy brought us back into the game. Looking forward to two games tomorrow bringing the same energy and team mindset!"
 
The Lutes close out the trip to Spokane tomorrow afternoon, with hopes of taking the series and a chance at their second series sweep of the Northwest Conference season.
 
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