TACOMA, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran University softball team (27-13, 17-11 NWC) earned their second-straight series sweep, taking down the Loggers of Puget Sound (9-29, 4-24 NWC) in both games on Sunday, 7-1 and 8-0. The Lutes ride an eight-game win streak now with their sights set on the 2025 Northwest Conference Tournament.
 
On Sunday at PLU Field, the Lutes were accompanied by their families to celebrate four senior Lutes in their last game day at home in their careers. Rachael Rhinehart, Brooke Tilson, Brookelyn Gutierrez, and Savannah Antonowicz, were celebrated for their contributions to the success of the Luteball program over the past four seasons. Senior day recognition followed the PLU Athletic Department's dedication of the newly acquired press box as the Conrad Family Press Box. The campuses newest facility was made possible by the generous contributions by numerous donors of the PLU Softball Program.
 
GAME ONE
 
Graduate senior Rachael Rhinehart earned the start in game one on her senior day, sitting down the Loggers in order to begin the game, including two strikeouts. Similar to the previous two games of the series, the Lute offense wasted no time getting to work, as Kamalani Doctor ripped a two-out double past the glove of the UPS third baseman. Senior Brookelyn Gutierrez made up for a called-back home run in yesterday's game by going deep to left field, as she gave the Lutes a loud 2-0 lead. Mya Grado kept the line moving with a double to deep right field, allowing a single by Emelia Maza to bring Grado home and put the Lutes up 3-0 after one.
 
The Loggers answered in the following inning, as a lead-off walk came around to score on a groundout to Tilson at shortstop, making it 3-1 Lutes. Jaycie Simpliciano led off the second inning with a double off the centerfield wall, scoring on an RBI groundout to second, taking another three-run lead.
 
As Rhinehart settled inside the circle, the Lutes bats stayed hot, as Tilson's lead-off single helped her round the bases after Bri Sarae singled up the middle. Doctor brought Sarae home with a single through the left side of the infield, before Gutierrez drove home Zoe Smithson with a single up the middle. PLU extended their lead to 7-1 after four innings.
 
Antonowicz made it five-straight innings with a hit for the Lutes, as she ripped a single up the middle in the fifth with two-outs. As Rhinehart extended her streak to six-straight batters retired through the top of the sixth, Smithson hit a one-out double in the home half of the sixth, but she was left stranded due to a double play to end the Lutes threat. Rhinehart handled the Loggers in the top of the seventh, earning the Lutes a 7-1 win, as well as securing the series win.
 
Of the Lutes 12 total hits, Gutierrez led the way with a 3-4 outing, driving in three runs; nine-different Lutes recorded hits in Sunday's first game. Four batters hit doubles, while Gutierrez had the long ball to begin the game. Rhinehart went all seven on senior day, allowing one run on just four hits, striking out nine and walking one; her record moves to 7-5 on the season after earning the win.
 
GAME TWO
 
Sophomore Paige Wilson started game two for the Lutes, with hopes of shutting down the Loggers for a second-straight day to get the sweep. Wilson escaped a first-inning jam, and a double from the Loggers tried to score a runner from first, but Jaycie Simplicano's throw was perfect to get the runner out at the plate.
 
Sarae was hit by a pitch to lead off the home half of the first. After swiping second base, Sarae scored on a double from Smithson, taking a 1-0 lead in the first. An inning later, Simpliciano got it done at the plate, hitting a deep home run to left, extending the lead to two.
 
Wilson struck out the side in the third, while the offense provided more run support with a lead-off double by Sarae and a single by Doctor to take a 3-0 lead; scoring one in each of the first three innings. Tilson and Simpliciano opened the fourth with consecutive singles, leading to a Sarae home run to deep right field, doubling their previous total, now leading 6-0. With two outs, Doctor hit a ground-rule double to left, where Gutierrez kept the momentum alive with a double of her own to right; through four, the Lutes led 7-0.
 
Although the fifth opened with two runners on base and no outs, Wilson struck out three-straight batters to escape the pressure. The sophomore also navigated a single in the sixth, keeping the shutout effort.
 
In the home sixth, Sarae reached with a one-out walk, followed by stealing second during the next at-bat. With two-outs, Doctor served a single into shallow left field, bringing home Sarae to earn the 8-0 win in six innings.
 
Wilson earned the complete-game shutout, going six innings, allowing just three hits, and striking out eight. Of the Lutes 11 total hits in the regular-season finale, Doctor accounted for three in her 3-4 game at the dish, while each Sarae, Gutierrez, and Simpliciano had two-hit games as well.

"Today we capped off the regular season with 2 great wins! Rachael Rhinehart and Paige Wilson dominated the circle in each of their respective games, only allowing a few hits in total! It was an outstanding effort by all four senior student-athletes who finished their careers with exceptional performances today. Their leadership, resilience, and passion were on full display, and they played a pivotal role in the success of our final games." Said Head Coach Traci Barrett.

"A special shout-out to Kamalani Doctor, Brookelyn Gutierrez, Bri Sarae and Jaycie Simpliciano for their standout performances at the plate! Bri, Brookelyn and Jaycie with home runs and Kama walked off game 2 by scoring Bri! I am pleased with how we are playing at this point of the season and look forward to preparing for the NWC tournament!"

"Additionally, our defense was rock-solid throughout the day, showing grit, communication, and a nobody scores mentality! What a fun, emotional and inspiring finish to the regular season!"
 
The Lutes cap off the regular season with a 27-13 record, including a 17-11 record in Northwest Conference play. They will be riding an eight-game win streak heading into the Northwest Conference Tournament, and in the postseason for the fourth-consecutive season.
 
PLU Softball will look to take the momentum of two-straight series sweeps into the 2025 Northwest Conference Tournament. The Lutes enter their fourth-consecutive NWC Tournament as the No.4-seed, set to face the No.1-seeded Linfield Wildcats. Linfield will be the host for the entire tournament in McMinnville, Ore., with games set to begin on Friday, May 9^th.
 
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