Pacific Lutheran Slips Past Bearcats in NWC Softball, 1-0 and 4-2

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

PARKLAND, Wash. -- Pacific Lutheran University gave up five hits to Willamette University, including four doubles, in the first game of a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Friday, March 25, but the Lutes, who had just three hits -- all singles -- won the game 1-0 at PLU Field. Becca Sorensen scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Lutes won the second game 4-2.

PLU improved to 14-6 on the season, 6-4 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 9-4 overall, 5-3 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran and the Bearcats will play another doubleheader on Saturday, March 26, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. (PDT).

For Willamette, Danielle Saunders (So., LF, Salem, OR/McNary HS) hit two doubles in the first game and blasted a two-run homer in the first inning of the second game.

Bearcats Fall in Pitching Duel in First Game

The score was 0-0 for nearly all of the first game as pitchers Jade Smith (Jr., RHP, Chico, CA/Chico HS) of Willamette and Marissa Miller of Pacific Lutheran kept both teams off the scoreboard.

Saunders hit a double to right field with one out in the top of the first inning, but back-to-back fly outs ended the threat. With two outs in the third inning, Saunders smacked a double to left center, but remained at second after Miller forced Ashley Pender (Sr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS) to ground out to shortstop.

Alex Shields (Jr., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) opened WU's half of the fourth with a single to left. One out later, Mallory Asaro (Jr., SS, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) reached first on a fielder's choice, with Shields advancing to second and third on an error by Sorensen at second base. Asaro stole second. Miller escaped the jam with a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning.

In the top of the fifth, Kathryn Moore (So., 3B, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) doubled for Willamette with one out. Saunders was hit by a pitch. Pender belted a double to center field, moving Saunders to third, but Moore was thrown out at the plate. Shields was hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases. Victoria Bradshaw (Sr., OF, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) flied out to center field.

Pacific Lutheran earned two of its three hits in the sixth inning. Sorensen singled through the right side to open the stanza. A sacrifice bunt by Kayla Russell moved Sorensen to second. Thalen Masada singled up the middle, advancing Sorensen to third. Pinch-hitter Alison Behrends grounded out to third to drive in Sorensen with the game's only run.

Elli Rassbach pitched the top of the seventh inning and recorded two strikeouts before hitting Saunders with a pitch. Rassbach recovered to earn an other strikeout to end the game.

Miller improved to 5-3, while Rassbach achieved her first save. Smith recorded two strikeouts for the Bearcats and allowed no walks, while falling to 4-3.

Saunders was the only batter on either team with more than one hit. She was 2 for 2 and was hit by two pitches. The Bearcats left nine runners on base.

Lutes Rally from 2-0 Deficit to Win Second Game

The Bearcats took a quick lead in the first inning of game two. Pender singled to start the game, and advanced one base on a ground out to second by Moore. Pender stole third base before scoring Saunders' second home run of the season.

Pacific Lutheran reduced Willamette's lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Nichole Schroeder singled to right. After Kathryn Hatlen also singled, Amanda Hartley smacked an RBI double to center.

The final three runs for the Lutes were recorded in the third inning. The runs were scored with two outs, as Hatlen and Hartley singled and Jessica Wallace belted a three-run homer.

Willamette's only hits during the last four innings were a two-out single by pitcher Reanna Lancaster (Fr., LHP, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) in the fifth and a single by Bradshaw with one out in the seventh. The Lutes ended the game with a pop-up to third, followed by a force out at second on a grounder to shortstop.

Rassbach, who pitched a complete game for PLU, allowed just four hits overall, while earning one strikeout. She improved her record to 8-3. Lancaster dropped to 3-1.

Hartley was 2 of 3 for the Lutes with a run and an RBI. Hatlen finished 2 for 3 with a run scored.