TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University softball team's offense powered a sweep of crosstown rival Puget Sound on Saturday, winning 10-0 in five innings and 11-8.
Pacific Lutheran improved to 16-6 overall and 8-2 in Northwest Conference play, while Puget Sound fell to 4-16 and 2-8. The Lutes have won 10 straight meetings against the Loggers and sit second in the NWC standings behind Linfield University.
"Today was a role reversal being the visitor on our field," Head Coach Traci Barrett commented. "We capitalized on scoring early with Paola's monster home run. Kaya came up clutch for us securing the run rule. Paige was dominant in the circle in game one."
In Game 1, Paige Wilson earned the win, improving to 8-1 after allowing three hits and striking out eight over four innings.
Paolo Garcia continued her strong week with a leadoff home run in the first inning. Emelia Maza added a two-run double later in the frame to give the Lutes a 3-0 lead.
Pacific Lutheran added two more runs in the third, highlighted by an RBI double from Kamalani Doctor. Garcia struck again in the fifth with a three-run home run, extending the lead to 8-0.
Kaya Collado sealed the run-rule victory with a two-run single in the fifth.
In Game 2, Paityn Mackin earned her first collegiate win in relief, allowing four hits over 3 1/3 innings. Rachel Treves closed the game, tossing 2 2/3 innings.
The Lutes recorded 15 hits, with six players posting multi-hit performances.
Megan Landes opened the scoring with a two-run single in the second, and Lex Ahlo-Garcia followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0.
Puget Sound answered with a run in the third, but the Lutes responded with four runs in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead.
The Loggers rallied late, capitalizing on walks and hit batters to score five runs and cut the deficit to 7-6, then tied the game at 8-8 with a two-run home run in the sixth.
Pacific Lutheran regained control in the seventh. Maza led off with a single, and Ashlyn Sera and Collado each drove in runs to make it 10-8. Garcia added a sacrifice fly to provide the final margin.
"Game two we had a whole team effort," Barrett mentioned. "Mackin got more comfortable in the circle. The defense backed up the pitchers well today. Megan Landes had a clutch two-run RBI and Zoe Smithson, Maza, and Doctor all came up big for us."
The Lutes return to action Sunday at PLU Field to close the series against Puget Sound. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
