May 1, 2007

SOFTBALL: Lutes End Season on Losing Note

LAST WEEK: The Pacific Lutheran softball team played Puget Sound in a four-game series last weekend. The Lutes split with the Loggers on Saturday, but UPS proved to be too much for PLU to handle as they took both games on Sunday.

SATURDAY'S GAMES: Pacific Lutheran collected 11 hits in a 7-1 first-game win, and pitcher Jessica Roberts struck out 13 Lutes to lead Puget Sound to a 9-1 second-game victory, as the teams split a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the PLU diamond. The Lutes played one of their best games of the season in the opener in support of winning pitcher Hadley Schmitt. The freshman from Gaston, Ore., limited Puget Sound to one run on five hits while walking two and striking out five. PLU played errorless defense and scored early and played add-on when it was at the plate. Theresa Tauscher had four hits in as many at-bats, scored two runs and drove in three during the first game. Heather Walling and Alana Schutt both had a pair of hits in the winning cause. The second game was all Roberts. The senior from Sumner went the distance, allowing an unearned run on six hits while walking just one and striking out 13. Roberts faced 22 batters and threw first-pitch strikes to 20 of them. Tauscher added three hits in the second game and went 7-for-7 with two runs scored and four runs batted in for the day.

SUNDAYS GAMES: Lindsay Fujita hit a pair of home runs as the Puget Sound Loggers swept past the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, 4-0 and 5-3, in Sunday's doubleheader. Adrian Herlache limited the Lutes to just four hits while walking none and striking out two. Alana Schutt had a pair of hits for the Lutes. Puget Sound scored a run in the first against Cassie Canales, who took the loss, and Fujita hit a three-run homer against relief pitcher Hadley Schmitt in the sixth inning. In the second game, Fujita led things off with a solo home run in the bottom of the first as the Loggers took a 2-0 lead. The Lutes answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the second when Heather Walling delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single. PLU took the lead in the top of the third when Carly Starke led off with a double and scored on a base hit by Theresa Tauscher. The Loggers rallied for three runs on five hits in the third inning to take the win. Jessica Roberts beat the Lutes for the second time in two days, giving up three runs, all earned, on seven hits while walking three and striking out five.

AS A RESULT: The 2007 season was a learning experience for the youthful Lutes and their coaches. The Pacific Lutheran roster included three seniors, one junior, six sophomores and nine freshmen. PLU finished the season with a 17-18 overall record, which is the first losing season ever by a Lute fastpitch team. PLU ended up sixth in the Northwest Conference standings with an 11-17 record. There are some very positive things to look forward to, however, as the four top hitters for average consist of two sophomores and two freshmen. One of the sophomores, Heather Walling, led the Lutes with 15 steals and was not thrown out all season. In addition, freshmen pitcher Hadley Schmitt and Cassie Canales gained valuable experience while showing that they have all the talent and mental fortitude to become outstanding pitchers in the coming years.

TRIPLE CROWN NUMBERS: Theresa Tauscher finished the season leading the Lutes in all of the "triple crown" numbers - batting average (.461), home runs (five) and runs batted in (29). She collected four of her homers and 16 of her RBI in one five-game stretch during spring break. Tauscher started the season at shortstop, moved to centerfield, then over to rightfield to finish the season.

- PLU -