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March 9, 2008 Schmitt Picks Up Win and Save as Lutes Sweep Whitworth
PARKLAND – Pitcher Hadley Schmitt picked up a win in the first game and a save in the second as Pacific Lutheran swept a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader from visiting Whitworth on Sunday afternoon. Both games were close as the Lutes won by 4-3 and 5-4 scores. Schmitt improved her season record to 5-3 in the first game, allowing three earned runs on six hits while walking three and striking out eight. Whitworth’s Jessie LaPlante allowed the Lutes seven hits, but two unearned runs proved to be the difference in this contest. Both teams scored a run in the second, Whitworth’s coming when LaPlante led off with a double and scored on Amber Fowler’s sacrifice fly, and PLU’s coming when Rachel Wheeler-Hoyt singled and eventually scored on a throwing error. Wheeler-Hoyt was on second when Whitworth rightfielder Mandee Edwards made an outstanding diving catch in foul territory. Wheeler-Hoyt tagged and advanced to third and then scored when Edwards’ throw bounced into the Whitworth dugout. PLU (9-5 overall, 7-1 NWC) added another unearned run in the third inning when Sheila Reiten reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second on a throwing error and eventually scored on the back end of a double steal. Rachel Anderson tied the game for the Pirates (2-10 overall, 1-7 NWC) with a solo homer to left in the fourth, but the Lutes answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Vanessa Bryant, Carly Starke and Caitlin Brown all singled to lead the bases and pinch runner Shelby Johnston scored on Reiten’s single. PLU took a 4-2 lead in the fifth when Wheeler-Hoyt doubled to lead off the inning and Starke later singled to drive in pinch runner Crystal Reno. Whitworth scored its final run in the sixth when Josie Ball led off with a double and later came around on a fielder’s choice. Schmitt bore down in the top of the seventh, striking out two batters and getting the final out on a ground ball. Wheeler-Hoyt and Starke both had a pair of hits for the Lutes, while Anderson collected two safeties for Whitworth. Schmitt pitched the final inning of the second game to record her second save in as many days. Fowler led off the seventh with a single against PLU starter and winner Wheeler-Hoyt, bringing Schmitt in from the bullpen. Sara Rylaarsdam turned a bunt into a base hit, putting two runners on with no outs. Halley Cey advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, but pinch runner Edwards was cut down at the plate trying to score on a ground ball to Starke at second. With the tying run in scoring position, Lacey Kerr ended the game by flying out. The Lutes opened the scoring in the first inning, scoring three runs with two outs. Heather Walling reached on an infield single and Wheeler-Hoyt followed with a single, sending Walling to third. Lisa Gilbert singled through the middle to score Walling, and both Wheeler-Hoyt and Gilbert scored on Bryant’s double to right. Whitworth got those runs right back, all three coming with two outs, in the second. Fowler hit a double to drive in the first run and Rylaarsdam drove in the other two with a base hit. The Pirates tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth with an unearned run. Parry reached on a two-out error, stole second and then scored on Kerr’s single. The Lutes scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the inning when Wheeler-Hoyt led off with a homer to right field. PLU had another excellent scoring opportunity in the sixth but left the bases loaded. The Lutes collected 14 hits in the second game against LaPlante, who took the loss in both contests, but they left eight runners on bases. Waldron had three singles while Walling, Wheeler-Hoyt, Gilbert and Brown all collected a pair of hits. Fowler and Rylaarsdam both had a pair of hits to lead Whitworth’s seven-hit attack. Pacific Lutheran returns to action next Saturday, traveling to McMinnville, Ore., to take on defending national champion Linfield in a conference doubleheader. - PLU -
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