Lutes Rally Late for 4-2 Win in First Game, Defeat Bearcats 12-4 in Second Game

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Pacific Lutheran University scored four unearned runs in the seventh inning to rally for a 4-2 win against Willamette University in the first game on Saturday, March 31 at WU Softball Field. The Lutes then scored five runs in the first inning of the second game on their way to a 12-4 win on the run rule in six innings. PLU improved to 10-20 on the season, 5-15 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 5-20 overall, 5-13 in the NWC.

The Lutes and the Bearcats split the four-game conference series. Willamette won both games on Friday, claining a 5-4 win in eight innings in the opener and earning a 7-5 victory in the second game.

Glasgo Pitches Strong, but PLU Scores Unearned Runs in 4-2 Win

Jocelyn Glasgo (So., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) of Willamette pitched a quality game against Pacific Lutheran in the first game, as she entered the seventh inning with a 2-0 lead and had two outs before an errant throw helped the Lutes rally for a 4-2 win. Glasgo threw 119 pitches, including 77 strikes. She registered five strikeouts and allowed nine hits and three walks. All of this occurred after throwing 117 pitches in Willamette's eight-inning win on Friday.

The seventh inning began with a pinch-hit single toward shortstop by Anna Lennox of PLU. Elise Freund grounded out to third and Gabriella Moreno grounded out to shortstop, as Lennox moved to third. Slap hitter Bailey Plumb, the Lutes' fastest player, hit the ball to third. The throw to first was wild, allowing Lennox to score and Plumb to reach second.

Five more players batted before the Bearcats got out of the inning. After Becca Sorenson walked, Anna Overland hit an RBI single for the Lutes. Kennedy Robllard walked, and then Kathryn Hatlen drove in two runs with a single up the middle, as PLU took the lead. Alexis Okamura grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh Pacific Lutheran pitcher Marissa Miller faced just three batters. Miller threw a complete game with 126 pitches. She allowed just four hits and two runs -- one earned -- while recording five strikeouts and two walks.

Pacific Lutheran had a chance to score in the first inning. The Lutes mixed three infield singles to shortstop with two strikeouts while loading the bases. Hatlen grounded out to shortstop for the final out of the inning, as PLU left all three runners on base.

Willamette broke the 0-0 tie in the fourth. Maya Shipway (So., 1B, Bothell, WA/The Bear Creek School) singled and Bailey Hillmick (Fr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEween HS) walked. Kea Gier (So., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School) reached first on a throwing error by the third baseman that also allowed Shipway to score and Hillmick to go to third. After Gier stole second, Vanessa Almaraz (So., OF, Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley HS) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Hillmick.

Miller limited the Bearcats to four singles. The hits were recorded by Glasgo, Shipway, Hillmick and Emily Bishop (Jr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS/Pierce College). For PLU, Sorensen was 2 for 2 with two walks and a double for the game's only extra-base hit. Robillard was 2 for 3 with a walk, while Plumb went 2 for 4 and scored once.

Big First Inning and Errors Help Lutes Win 12-4 in Second Game

Pacific Lutheran grabbed a 5-0 lead on five hits in the first inning of the second game, and the Lutes led the rest of the way. In the first, Overland connected for an RBI single, Robillard hit an RBI double down the left field line, and Lennox smacked a three run homer to left.

The Bearcats committed a total of six errors during the next five innings, including four dropped flies. The Lutes scored two unearned runs in the second inning and added two unearned runs in the third for a 9-0 advantage after Willamette committed one error in each inning. In the thrid, Sorensen drove in both runs with a single down the left field line.

Willamette battled back with four runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Hillmmick singled up the middle and Glasgo earned an infield hit. A single by Sofia Magnani (So., P/OF, Belmont, CA/Notre Dame HS) to right drove in Hillmick and a single by Shipway brought Glasgo home. A fielding error by the catcher on the throw to the plate allowed Magnani to score and sent Shipway to second. Shipway scored on a single by Bishop.

Pacific Lutheran scored an unearned run in the fourth inning. Robillard reached on an error and pinch-runner Jessica Alcomendas later scored on a single by Lennox. In the sixth, the Lutes added two unearned runs after the inning began with back-to-back errors. Lennox drove in one run with a sacrifice fly and Freund drove in the second run with a single to left. 

Kaitlin Menker singled to right field for the Bearcats with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Robillard, who pitched the final three innings for PLU, caused Olivia Scott (So., C, San Francisco, CA/Lowell HS) to line into a 4-3 double play. The Lutes on 12-4 on the run rule.

Robillard picked up the pitching victory and improved to 5-8. She allowed just two hits and no runs over the final three innings. Lennox went 2 for 5 with a homer, a run and five RBis for the Lutes. Plumb was 3 of 4 at the plate and scored two runs. Robillard finished 2 of 4 with two runs, a double and an RBI. Fruend was 2 of 4, scored once and had one RBI. 

Hillmick went 2 for 2 on offense for Willamette. Five other Bearcats each recorded one hit.

Up Next for Willamette

The Bearcats will four games at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, next weekend. The Bearcats and the Loggers will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 7 at 12 p.m. (PDT). The teams will compete in another doubleheader on Sunday, April 8, also at 12 p.m.