MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran University softball team (27-15, 17-11 NWC) dropped both games in the first day of play at the 2025 Northwest Conference Softball tournament, as the No.1-seeded Linfield Wildcats (36-5, 25-3 NWC) took down the Lutes 9-1, before the No.2-seeded Lewis & Clark Pioneers (30-10, 21-7 NWC) walked-off the Lutes in a 4-3 final in eight-innings.
 
GAME ONE
 
With the Lutes set to be the road team in each game of the tournament, Bri Sarae opened the first against the nationally-ranked Wildcats with a single to third. She would be stranded on third as the only other hit in the inning was Kamalani Doctor who singled to center. Linfield put the pressure on the reigning National Pitcher of the Week in sophomore Paige Wilson, scoring four runs on four hits and an error to climb out to an early 4-0 lead on their home field.
 
The Wildcats extended their lead two innings later, opening the third with a double and a home run to make it 6-0. After scattering three hits over four innings, the Lutes got on the board, when both Sarae and Zoe Smithson singled with two outs in the fifth; where Sarae would steal home on a double-steal attempt, making it 6-1 Wildcats.
 
Wilson continued on the mound for the Lutes into the sixth, where Linfield led-off with a single to center, before hitting a two-out, two-run, home run, to end the game by run-rule, 9-1.
 
Two of the Lutes six hits came from Sarae, although striking out just four times in the game. Wilson went 5.2-innings, allowing nine runs (eight earned), on 11 hits, and striking out a pair to take just her sixth loss of the season. With the result, the Lutes headed to the elimination portion of the postseason bracket, needing to win two games to reach the conference finals.
 
GAME TWO
 
After the No.2 seed, Lewis & Clark, fell to George Fox in the opening round, they were matched with the Lutes in the 3:40 p.m. start; where each team faced elimination. The Lute bats wasted no time in their second game of the day, as Doctor ripped a two-out, solo home run, in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead.
 
Graduate senior Rachael Rhinehart celebrated her senior day last weekend at PLU Field, earned the start in Friday's third game of the tournament. She escaped a pair of runners on base in the first, striking out the third batter to end the Pioneers threat.
 
PLU found their stride again in the fifth, as Jaycie Simpliciano led off with a single down the left field line. After she stole second, and Sarae singled to third, Doctor brought the outfielder across with a sacrifice fly to center; extending the Lutes lead to 2-0.
 
In the home half of the fifth, Lewis & Clark matched the Lutes, scoring two on one hit and one error, tying the game up at 2-2. Neither team was able to go ahead with just one hit each over the next two innings, sending the game to extras, with their seasons on the line.
 
After Doctor reached on an error, Ashleighn McAuley singled, and Emelia Maza drove in Doctor to take a 3-2 lead. The Pios got to Rhinehart early in the eighth, as a leadoff pair of doubles tied the game up at 3-3. Wilson came in to relieve for Rhinehart inside the circle, earning a fly-out. The next batter clubbed the Pioneers third double of the inning, and plated the winning run, as Lewis & Clark advanced with a 4-3 win over PLU.
 
The Lutes recorded eight hits in their second game of the day, with McAuley and Simpliciano leading the way with two a-piece. Eight runners were stranded on the basepaths, while the Lutes struck out just once. Rhinehart went seven innings, but was credited with the loss in extra-innings; she allowed just four runs (two earned) on seven hits, and striking out two.
 
"What a hard last game to end on for our seniors! We fought and made a great mental shift in that last game, but fell just short of another game." Said Head Coach Traci Barrett.
 
"Rachael Rhinehart did an amazing job in the circle in game two, and will be missed by all! Brooke Tilson, Brookelyn Gutierrez and Savannah Antonowicz have poured their heart into this program for four years, and we are so grateful for all they contributed!"

"We were young this year and I'm grateful for what the team did this year to show us where we need to grow and what incredible strengths we have. Our strength will always be in the incredible young women we are lucky enough to coach, and I'm grateful for the staff that loves them and gives so much to all of them all-year long!"
 
PLU Softball's 2025 campaign comes to a close. Ending the season with a 27-15 overall record, and a 17-11 record in Northwest Conference play. The Lutes entered the conference tournament as the No.4 seed, falling to the No.1 and No.2 teams to end their tournament run. Next season, softball will be without four seniors who plan to graduate in the coming weeks, taking the invaluable lessons they learned from the Luteball program into the real world.
 
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