Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

TACOMA, Wash. — Paige Wilson became just the eighth Lute to collect 300 career strikeouts, tossing all 14 innings on Friday as the top-seeded Pacific Lutheran University softball team survived the opening day of the 2026 Northwest Conference Tournament as the field was whittled down from four to three teams. The Lutes scored early and often in a 7-0 victory over fourth seed George Fox University to open the day before coming up short 4-2 in the nightcap against second seed Linfield University at PLU Field.

The 21st-ranked Lutes (33-9) will host third seed Lewis & Clark College on Saturday at noon with the winner advancing to the NWC Championship game on Sunday against Linfield. 

"It was a tough competitive day for the team. Paige led the way with 20 strikeouts and was a competitor in the circle. We'll learn from this experience, adjust at the plate, and keep pushing forward," said Head Coach Traci Barrett.
 
The Lutes struck first against George Fox in the tournament opener, pushing across a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning. Kaya Collado led off the inning with a base hit, moving to third on a Paola Garcia double, before coming home on a wild pitch. The Lutes had two runners in scoring position later in the inning before a double play bailed out the Bruins, escaping the inning by allowing just one run. 
 
The Lutes added two more runs in the third inning, using a two-out rally to seize a 3-0 lead. An Aby Redwine single to right center field plated pinch runner Syan Yamamoto before a Lex Ahlo-Garcia down the left field line allowed Kamalani Doctor to touch home plate. 

Doctor made it 4-0 in the fourth, belting a two-out double to score Jaycie Simpliciano before adding two more in the fifth inning. Redwine led off the fifth with a base hit before scoring on an Ahlo-Garcia double. Ashlyn Sera would trade places with Ahlo-Garcia, blasting a double to right field to make it a six-run cushion.
 
Doctor hit a one out double in the sixth inning, later scoring after taking two bases on a Redwine flyout to conclude the scoring in the tournament opener as PLU breezed to the 7-0 win. 

PLU cranked out 13 hits against the Bruins (22-19) with Ahlo-Garcia going three-for-four with two RBIs while Doctor was three-for-four with two runs scored. 
 
Paige Wilson was dialed in, striking out a season-high 13 and allowing just three hits and one walk to earn the complete game shutout inside the circle. 

The nightcap against seventh-ranked Linfield (35-6) saw the second-seeded Wildcats strike first, scoring on a throwing error in the top of the third inning. Doctor answered for the Lutes in the bottom of the third, belting a deep sacrifice fly to right field, allowing pinch runner Syan Yamamoto to score and tie the game at 1-1.
 
An Ashlyn Sera single to right center field scored Ahlo-Garcia who slide under the tag at the plate, giving the host Lutes a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. 
 
Linfield pulled back in front in the top of the sixth, loading the bases before scoring a run on an infield single followed by another on a wild pitch, taking a 3-2 advantage. The Wildcats pushed across another run in the seventh to make it a two score game.

Consecutive singles from Garcia, Doctor, and Smithson put the winning run on first base but a lineout ended the rally and will force the Lutes to win out if they want a piece of their first NWC Tournament title since 2012.
 
Doctor was three-for-three in the showdown with Linfield while Bri Sarae was two-for-four.

Wilson struck out seven in another complete game effort, registering 20 strikeouts over the two games. Her 302 strikeouts sits tied for eighth on the all-time list with Marissa Miller (2015-2018) and is just 10 punchouts away from sixth place.