CLAREMONT, Calif.— The Pacific Lutheran University softball team began its California road trip on Friday, sweeping Pomona-Pitzer Colleges by scores of 6-2 and 8-4 to begin the six-game trip.
Game one began with the Sagehens (3-12) striking first, scoring on an error in the first inning. The Lutes' offense started up in the top of the third with
Mya Grado and
Jaycie Simpliciano lacing singles through the infield to get on base.
Paola Garcia continued her hot-hitting and drove in Grado with a single up the middle to tie up the game at 1-1.
Pomona-Pitzer would grab the lead back, hitting a solo home run in bottom of the 3rd.
Bri Sarae capitalized on a missed pitch and cranked a double to left center in the 5th. Garcia then added on singling to right field before Sarae scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.
Kamalani Doctor joined the offensive party, doubling to left field and bringing Garcia home to make it 3-2 PLU. The Lutes (5-3) would later score from a Sagehen error before
Emelia Maza continued the momentum driving a single to center field bringing in
Zoe Smithson for a 5-2 PLU lead.
Simpliciano would bring in the final run, doubling in the sixth and bringing home Grado for the final 6-2 scoreline.
Paige Wilson would garner the win in the circle, improving her overall record to 3-0, pitching 7.0 innings with just one walk and seven strikeouts.
Simpliciano and Garcia tied for most hits for the Lutes with two on the day in key moments to lead PLU's offense.
Sarae began the second game with the Lutes first hit, singling up the middle. Doctor then stepped up and found a gap through the infield with a RBI single to give PLU a 1-0 advantage. The Sagehens answered back tying up the game 1-1.
Lutes would do some damage in the second, as Maza walked, Simpliciano singled to right field, and Sarae reached on error, scoring Maza to break the tie 2-1. Garcia later went deep for a three-run home run to give PLU a 5-1 advantage.
The Sagehens would have another answer getting one run back but leaving one runner on base , narrowing it to 5-2. Smithson started another offensive spurt for PLU, slamming a double to left center.
Lex Ahlo-Garcia continued the hot bats and singled through the left side. Maza stepped up and earned two more RBI with a single to push the lead to 7-2. Simpliciano kept her momentum from game one with another double, driving home Grado 8-2 Lutes.
Pomona-Pitzer would make a comeback attempt in the fifth scoring two runs, but would strand too many runners on base as the Lutes earned the sweep with an 8-4 win.
Rachel Treves got the start and garnered her first win on the season, pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing three earned runs.
Maiya Anderson got the save for PLU, only allowing three hits in 2 2/3 innings of play.
PLU returns to action tomorrow, March 14th as they take on California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks with opening pitch set for 12 PM.
