COLUMBUS, Ga.— The Pacific Lutheran University softball team dominated day two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Saturday, defeating Stevens Institute of Technology 14-6 to begin the day and LaGrange College 10-0 in game two.

"The team was solid today!," Head Coach Traci Barrett pointed out. "We had some lulls in our offense, but I'm most proud of the low strikeouts and high walks. That's a ratio we're working hard on. We had a grand performance by Paige in game one and Maiya in game two. Paityn and Rachel were great with closing innings as well. Paola Garcia was electric at the plate with one RBI in game one and five in game two and Jaycie Simpliciano continues to show a competitive spirit that is so special. We're looking forward to tomorrow."

Lex Ahlo-Garcia got after it defensively in the first inning against the Ducks, setting the tone after getting two putouts on the basepaths. Garcia played the role of party starter for the Lutes in the first inning, ripping a double to bring home Bri Sarae. Ahlo-Garcia added to the first inning heroics, driving a ball to center field scoring two runs to give PLU a 3-0 lead. 

Kamalani Doctor would single in the second, driving Sarae in to make it 4-0. Stevens would inch back into the game, scoring two runs in the fourth off two singles and two walks, to make it a 4-2 game. That woke up the Lute bats in the fourth, scoring nine runs and capitalizing on some gritty at-bats drawing walks in key moments and capitalizing off errors with heads-up base running.

Garcia and Doctor would finish with multiple hits leading the Lute offense while Sarae drew three walks and scored four times. 

Wilson tossed four innings and only allowed three hits while striking out six. Paityn Mackin pitched one inning of relief to close out the game. 

Garcia followed up a strong start in game one by doing the exact same thing in game two, getting the Lutes on the board with an RBI single in the first inning. Emilie Maza, Ashlyn Sera, and Sarae loaded the bases in the second inning before a Garcia single scored two of the three. Doctor would bring home Sarae later in the inning, making it 4-0 PLU. Garcia would get things moving again in the fourth inning, hitting a double to center field to score two and making it a 6-0 Lute lead.

PLU used its depth in the later innings, getting several pinch hitters opportunities, Aby Redwine took full advantage, lining a single through the gap bringing in Zoe Smithson to make it 7-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth. 

Jaimee Cagle pinch hit in the seventh, earning a walk with the bases loaded to make it 8-0. Doctor put the icing on the cake, hitting a single and driving in two more runs to give PLU a 10-0 lead.

Maiya Anderson got the start in the circle for game two and calmly delivered a gem of performance, hitting her spots pitching six innings, allowing two hits, walking two, and delivering four strikeouts. Rachel Treves pitched the final inning, allowing no hits.

PLU returns to action tomorrow for day three of the NFCA Leadoff Classic as they take on Pfeiffer University and No. 5 Saint Mary's University (Minn.).