FOREST GROVE, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University softball team opened up Northwest Conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of host Pacific University. The Lutes rallied from an early deficit and outlasted the Boxers 8-6 in a marathon extra innings affair in the opener before scoring early and often in a 14-4 thumping in the nightcap. 

"We did a great job passing the bat today and putting together quality at bats. Everyone was contributing whether it was a hit, bunt, or making a great play in the field," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.
 
The Lutes (10-4, 2-0 NWC) fell behind early in game one but got a combined five RBIs between Paola Garcia and Jaycie Simpliciano to rally for the extra innings victory.

The host Boxers (8-4, 3-3 NWC) struck first, getting a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning to stake a 4-0 lead. The Lutes chipped into the lead in the third inning with a Garcia sacrifice fly scoring Alexa Saladin but the hosts added a run of their own in the bottom of the frame to make it 5-1.

Simpliciano belted an infield single to score Lex Ahlo-Garcia in the fourth inning before Kaya Collado drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Syan Yamamoto to make it a two-run game. 

Kamalani Doctor narrowed the gap to one run in the fifth inning with a solo home run before a Garcia RBI single scored Simpliciano in the sixth, tying the game at 5-5.

Neither team generated a run in the seventh, forcing extra innings. A Garcia RBI double scored Collado in the eighth but Pacific's Chloe Knepp belted her second home run of the game to extend the contest into the ninth inning.

In the ninth inning Ahlo-Garcia led off with a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch and moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Emelia Maza. An error allowed Ahlo-Garcia to score before a Simpliciano double plated Saladin to make it an 8-6 PLU lead. Pacific had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth before a lineout cut the rally short, giving the Lutes the hard fought extra innings win.

PLU banged out 13 hits with Simpliciano going three-for-four with two RBIs while Garcia had two hits and three RBIs. 

Paige Wilson was a workhorse inside the circle, tossing all nine innings and striking out eight while allowing just four hits. 
 
Game two saw the Lutes pour on six runs in the second inning and four more in the seventh for the double-digit win. 

Doctor got the offense rolling in the top of the first inning, belting her second home run of the afternoon to give the Lutes a 2-0 edge. A Saladin double in the second inning scored Maza while a fielding error allowed Saladin to score later in the inning. Garcia cleared the bases with a two-RBI single while also getting RBI hits from Zoe Smithson and Ahlo-Garcia to make it 8-0. 

Pacific pushed across two runs in the third and another in the fourth to avoid the mercy rule but the Lutes wouldn't relent, adding two in the fifth inning and four in the seventh. 

Collado had an RBI single in the fifth while Garcia had an RBI double. Collado was back at it in the seventh with another RBI single while the Lutes also got RBI hits from Aby Redwine, Yamamoto, and Reagan Dale.
 
Pacific added a run in the seventh but it was too little loo late for the hosts as PLU swept the day.

Simpliciano finished four-for-four with three runs scored while Garcia had three hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored in a game the Lutes cranked out a combined 20 base hits from 12 different players.

Maiya Anderson secured the win inside the circle, striking out four in the complete game effort. 

"Jaycie and Paola were on fire with runners in scoring position. Kamalani came through with power that we needed at crucial times, Kaya did a great job in the lead off spot, setting the tone and being disciplined with five walks."

"Defensively we stayed locked in and handled the routine plays well, Paige and Maiya really set the tone in the circle. They attacked hitters and trusted the defense behind them. We also played a reserve game today following the doubleheader and loved seeing the team support one another."

The Lutes and Boxers finish off the series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.