March 11, 2007

Pirates Take Two More Games From the Lutes

Game One
Game Two

Vanessa Bryant

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran softball team dropped two games against Whitworth today in a Northwest Conference doubleheader. The Pirates won the first game by a score of 9-3 and took the second game 9-1.

The losses put the Lutes at 6-4 overall and 4-4 in NWC play. Whitworth (11-0 overall, 8-0 NWC) is undefeated this season and is in first place in the Northwest Conference.

In the first game the Lutes got on top early. In the second inning a pair of singles by Alana Schutt and Beth Kenck put the two in scoring position and Vanessa Bryant hit a double into left center to score both runners. Schutt added one more in the third after she hit a double to right field allowing Carly Starke to score.

PLU loaded the bases in the fifth inning with one out but Schutt hit into a 1-2-3 double play that ended the inning. Whitworth would take the momentum into the top of the inning. Starting picture Hadley Schmitt gave up four hits, which in turn gave the Pirates a 5-3 lead. Whitworth extended its lead in the sixth as Lindsay Davis ignited another four-run rally with an RBI single to center field with two outs. Morgan Thomsen added a two-run single later in the inning, followed by an RBI single from Lacey Kerr.

PLU hurt its cause with costly mistakes in the second game. The Lutes had six errors, eight walks and three wild pitches. Whitworth scored nine runs on only six hits.

The Lutes' only tally came in the fifth as Brenna Archibald scored from third on Starke 's ground out to second.

Vanessa Bryant led the Lutes at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs batted in during the two games.

The Lutes will head down to Arizona for their next competition. The softball team will be playing in the Tucson Invitational from March 23-28. The Lutes play Luther College and Calvin College in back-to-back games on March 23.

- PLU -