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

PARKLAND, Wash. -- Pacific Lutheran University rallied from deficits in both games to defeat Willamette University 4-3 and 7-6 in eight innings during a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Wednesday, April 8. The Lutes trailed 3-1 after five innings in the first game. PLU was behind 6-1 after five innings in the second game.

The Lutes upped their record to 17-15 on the season, including 10-1 in the NWC. The Bearcats ended the day at 11-19 overall, 8-12 in the NWC.

Willamette took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener. Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) belted a double to center to start the game. She scored one out later on a single through the left side of the infield by Ashley Pender (Jr., 2B, Reno, NV/North Valleys HS).

PLU tied the score two innings later. Thalen Masada began the bottom of the third with a single and advanced to second on an error in left field. Emily McConnell also singled to put runners at the corners.

Elli Rassbach brought home Masada with a sacrifice fly. Two more singles loaded the bases, but WU starting pitcher Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS) got out of the inning with a double play when Samantha Boelter sent a line drive back to the circle. Smith caught the ball and threw out McConnell at third.

Kayla Rieger (Sr., 3B/OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) of Willamette singled with one out in the fourth inning and stole second base. Rieger moved to third when Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) reached base on an error by the shortstop. Alex Shields (So., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) drove in Rieger with a groundout.

The Bearcats added another run for a 3-1 lead in the fifth. Carrie Fox (Fr., LF, Dupont, WA/Steilacoom HS) started the inning with a single. She stole second base, and then scored on a single by Winslow.

Pacific Lutheran tallied one run in the sixth to cut the deficit in half. With two outs, Kailyn Osaki hit the ball toward third and reached base on a throwing error. She also advanced to second on the play. A pinch-hit single by Jessica Alcomendas allowed Osaki to score.

The Lutes won the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. A walk to McConnell and a single by Rassbach put runners at first and second. Tori Hamura provided an RBI single to center.

Later in the inning, pinch-runner Sydney Smythe was thrown out at home with the bases loaded on a fielder's choice toward Smith. The bases were still loaded when Amanda Hartley batted next. She received a walk to send home pinch-runner Makayla Bentz with the winning run.

Winslow was 2 for 3 for WU in the first game. She walked once, scored a run and pounded a double for the game's only extra-base hit. Rieger went 2 for 3 with a run scored. Hartley was 2 for 3 with the game-winning RBI for PLU. Hamura went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

PLU pitcher Marissa Miller earned the win and improved to 7-7. Smith took the loss and fell to 8-7.

Willamette built a 4-0 lead in the second game. The Bearcats plated two runs in the first inning on four hits. Myranda Ramirez (So., CF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) singled and later scored on a base hit by Rieger. Erin Norris (Sr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) also singled to drive in Amanda Absher (Sr., C, Elk Grove, CA/Franklin HS).

In the third inning, Pender singled and stole second base. She reached third on a passed ball and scored on an infield single by Absher that was fielded by the catcher. In the fourth, Ramirez earned an RBI when she reached base on an error with Danielle Saunders (Fr., OF, Salem, OR/McNary HS) at third.

PLU scored once in the fourth on an RBI double by Gracen Malich, but WU tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth for a 6-1 advantage. Both runs scored when Rieger and Absher crossed the plate on a triple by Norris.

The Lutes battled back with three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to force an extra inning. Crysti Snyder belted a two-run double in the sixth. In the seventh, Hamura walked to start the inning, and Samantha Boelter smacked a two-run homer with one out to tie the game.

Snyder tripled as the first batter in the bottom of the eighth. After Masada grounded out, McConnell reached on an error in left field and went to second base. Rassbach supplied the game-winning hit with a single to drive in Snyder.

Boelter was 3 for 4, Thalen finished 3 for 5, and Snyder went 2 for 4. Boelter and Snyder each earned two runs and two RBIs. For Willamette, Rieger was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Norris was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Leah Butters (8-7) pitched the final three innings for PLU. She struck out two batters and allowed one hit. Victoria Bradshaw (Jr., P, Discovery Bay, CA/Liberty HS) pitched the last 1 1/3 innings. She fell to 1-4 with the loss.

Willamette will host Lewis & Clark College in four NWC games this weekend. The teams will play doubleheaders on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12, with the action starting at 12 p.m. (PDT) each day.