Lutes Slip by Bearcats, 8-6, in First Game on way to Doubleheader Sweep

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

PARKLAND, WASH. -- Defending NCAA Division III national champion Pacific Lutheran University scored two runs in the sixth inning to earn an 8-6 win over Willamette University in the first game of a softball doubleheader on Sunday, April 14. In the second game, Lute pitcher Leah Butters held the Bearcats to one hit, as PLU won 10-0 on the run rule in five innings.

The Lutes upped their record to 25-13 overall, 18-8 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 14-22, 10-16 in the NWC. The Bearcats will conclude the season on Tuesday, April 16 with a pair of make-up games at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash., starting at 12 p.m. (PDT).

Kelli Snyder (Sr., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS) of Willamette was 3 for 4 with an RBI in the opener. She leads Willamette with a .448 batting average this season. Ashley Pender (Fr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valley HS) singled to center field in the fourth inning for the Bearcats' only hit in the second game.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opener with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Allison Martin (Jr., OF, Thousand Oaks, CA/Westlake HS) tripled and scored one out later on an infield single by Jenna King (So., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS). After Pender reached base on an error, Snyder provided an RBI single up the middle, as King scored from second.

PLU tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the third, but WU pushed back in front when Heather Winslow (So., 1B/RF, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) stole home on a double steal in the top of the fourth.

Three runs by the Lutes in the bottom of the inning gave Pacific Lutheran a 5-4 edge. Willamette regained the lead when three Bearcats crossed the plate in the top of the fifth. Amanda Fernandes (So., UT, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS) drove in two runs with a double. Fernandes scored when Winslow reached base on an error by the pitcher.

In the bottom of the fifth, PLU scored once to tie the game, before moving into the lead with two runs in the sixth. Melissa Harrelson scored the go-ahead run on a squeeze bunt by Amanda Hall that led to an error by the Bearcats. Montessa Califano also scored on the play.

Willamette outhit the Lutes, 13-12, in the opener. Snyder's three hits led the way, while Martin went 2 for 2. Courtney Galli (Jr., 3B/1B, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) and Yvonne Drabin (Sr., CF, Fremont, CA/Moreau Catholic HS) each finished 2 of 4 for the Bearcats. Four PLU players achieved two hits in the opener, led by Katie Lowery, who was 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs.

Butters struck out two batters and did not allow a walk in the second game, as she improved to 6-2 on the season. The Lutes took charge with three runs in the first inning. PLU also scored three runs in the second stanza and scored four times in the third.

Kaaren Hatlen, who recorded the pitching victory in the first game, went 2 for 2 with two home runs and six RBIs in the second game. She belted a three-run homer in the second inning and hit a two-run homer in the third.

Also with two hits for PLU in the second game were Harrelson, who went 2 for 2 with three runs scored, and Lindsey Matsunaga, who finished 2 for 2.