ORANGE, Calif. — The Pacific Lutheran University softball squad proved once again it can compete against the nation's best, securing a doubleheader split on the road against 19th-ranked Chapman University on Sunday at El Camino Real Park. The Lutes fell 6-1 in the opener but earned revenge in the nightcap, scoring early and often in a 5-2 victory.

The doubleheader wrapped up PLU's (8-4) rugged non-conference slate that saw the team play four games against Top 20 opponents, including the reigning national champions of NCAA Division III. 

The nationally-ranked Panthers (16-4) scored in bunches in game one, plating a pair of runs in the first, fourth, and six innings. PLU tallied its lone run in the seventh inning with Zoe Smithson belting her second round-tripper of the season. 

Paige Wilson tossed all six innings, striking out five. Chapman's Rose Malen earned the complete game win, striking out just one but limiting the Lutes to just one hit and two walks.

PLU flipped the script in game two, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Ashlyn Sera set the tone with a leadoff triple, later scoring on a Smithson single with one out. Kamalani Doctor legged out an infield single before both Smithson and Doctor scored on an Emelia Maza single through the left side to make it 3-0.

Alex Saladin drew a walk to lead off the second inning, advancing to third on a Jaycie Simpliciano infield single. A Paola Garcia triple to left field brought both Saladin and Simpliciano home, pushing the Lute edge to 5-0. 

After three hitless innings, the Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, manufacturing two runs to close within three. Neither team would score the rest of the way as the Lutes preserved the two-run lead to secure the win and the series split. 

Smithson was one of seven Lutes to get a hit in game two, finishing two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored. Maiya Anderson was dialed in inside the circle, registering 13 strikeouts for the complete game win. The reigning Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Week scattered six hits and allowed no walks to tally her third win of the weekend. Anderson finishes the California trip with 22 total strikeouts across 14 2/3 innings of work while issuing no walks and allowing just two runs.

"Game one of day three was a challenge for us since last weekend and we faced that again today with a slow start, a tight strike zone, and giving too much away for free to our opponent," said Head Coach Traci Barrett 

"Fortunately, this team is learning how deep we are, how to respond, and stay within ourselves. Maiya was incredible with 13 strikeouts, zero walks, and only two hard hit balls in seven innings to secure the win. 

Our offense struck early in the game to provide the run support that helps any pitcher step in the circle with less pressure. The energy and grit of the team showed up in game two and we were able to finish strong unlike last weekend in Atlanta. Zoe lit a fire under our offense after a game one solo home run in the seventh. Paola and Ashlyn triples as well as Emelia's two-RBI single in the top of the second provided enough offense to sustain the win. We have some work to do but looking forward to getting better this week. I'm so proud of the team, player one through thirty."

PLU leaves California having won five of its six games in the Golden State, scoring 40 runs over the course of the three doubleheaders.

The Lutes begin NWC action on Saturday, heading to Forest Grove, Oregon for a four-game series with Pacific University.