SALEM, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran University softball team (13-7, 3-5 NWC) split the first two of a four-game series at Willamette (12-8, 4-6 NWC) on Saturday; dropping game one 1-0 before taking a dominant 11-0 win in game two behind a no-hitter from sophomore Paige Wilson.
 
GAME ONE
 
Graduate student Rachael Rhinehart started game one inside the circle for the Lutes, getting herself out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first. Freshman Bri Sarae notched the Lutes first hit of the day in the second-inning, a single up the middle where she would later steal second base. Willamette escaped the trouble, keeping the score 0-0.
 
Smithson added a single and a stolen base in the third, but was later stranded on the basepaths. While Rhinehart worked out of another bases-loaded jam in the third, getting a foul-out to end the third. Willamette was able to end the shutout in the bottom of the fifth, hitting an RBI-single to score the runner from second and take a 1-0 lead.
 
The Lutes were unable to get a hit over the final two innings, earning just one base runner, giving the Wildcats a narrow 1-0 win.
 
Rhinehart moves to 4-2 on the season, going all six innings, allowing just five hits and one run while walking three and striking out four.
 
GAME TWO
 
Sophomore Paige Wilson earned the start in the afternoon contest, sitting down each of the first three batters in order. With Wilson dealing on the mound early in the game, the Lute bats began to heat up in the top of the third, as Zoe Smithson drove in two with a one-out double to left-centerfield. Kimara Blakely drove in Kamalani Doctor from second with a single to the shortstop, putting the Lutes up 3-0 early.
 
Now with run support from the offense, Willamette had their first base runner of the game in the home half of the third after an error at third base. Wilson escaped after forcing a pop-up and fly-out. The Lutes added another run in the fourth, a two-out single by Bri Sarae scored Brooke Tilson to extend PLU's lead to 4-0. Wilson walked her only batter of the game in the bottom of the fourth but stranded the runner at second with a groundout to Tilson at shortstop.
 
The Lutes exploded in the top of the fifth, as Doctor led off with a single to right center. Brookelyn Gutierrez, Alyssa Fierro, and Mya Grado hit three-straight singles, scoring two runners. Tilson walked to make it 6-0, ending the Bearcats starters day inside the circle. Jaycie Simpliciano wore a pitch to score Fierro before Sarae's sacrifice fly scored Grado. Smithson capped off the big inning for the Lutes with a three-run home run, her tenth of the season, scoring three and making it an 11-0 game with the Bearcats down to their final three outs due to run-rule.
 
Wilson shut the door with three-straight strikeouts, earning her the no-hitter in five innings of work on the mound.
 
The Lute bats exploded in game two, doubling their hit total from game one with 10. Seven different Lutes had hits, with Sarae, Smithson, and Docter adding two each. Tilson's two walks helped her to score three runs.
 
Wilson went all five innings, throwing just 60 pitches as she had her second no-hitter of the season; the first time a Lute has had multiple no-hitters in a season since Candace Howard did it in 2003, in games just 20-days apart. The sophomore walked just one batter and struck out five over five innings of work. Her earned run average dropped to 4.17 for the season, moving to 5-3. Her first no-hitter was also a five-inning game against Gordon at The Spring Games in Florida.
 
Smithson went 4-7 on the day, driving in five in the second game as both of her hits were a double and a home run to help the Lutes win by a run-rule in game two. Sarae went 4-5 while driving in two in total on Saturday, she also walked once.
 
"Sometimes, the first game serves as a wake-up call." Said Head Coach Traci Barrett.
 
"We were slow to get going, but in the second game, we found our rhythm. We capitalized on their mistakes, stayed aggressive, and turned missed opportunities into runs. Paige with her second 5-inning No-Hitter of the season was excellent! Our bats stopped thinking and just hit! Zoe's leadership at the plate is unmatched!"
 
The Lutes finish the series against Willamette tomorrow afternoon in Salem, Ore. with hopes of using the momentum to win the series.
 
To follow Lutes coverage all season long, please follow us on social media; PLU Athletics on Facebook, @GoLutes on X.com and Instagram.