Lutes conquer Pioneers

Softball sweeps Lewis & Clark, Johnston sends 2 out of the park

Brendan Abshier - abshiebk@plu.edu

Mast Sports Reporter

Pacific Lutheran University’s batters ran riot Sunday, sweeping Lewis & Clark, 9-3 and 16-0, in Northwest Conference play after collecting 34 total hits.

PLU sophomore Shelby Johnston helped lead the offense in a breakout performance, slugging two home runs and adding up six RBI’s for the day.

“These were my first at-bats that I’ve been able to take advantage of without a cast on,” Johnston said. “I’m out there trying to give it my all again.”

The Lutes broke open a 2-1 duel in the third inning with four runs on six hits.

PLU sophomore Hadley Schmitt took advantage of a possibly demoralized team by cooking up a 10 strikeout recipe while allowing only four walks and four hits.

“We all had our heads on so that was really nice,” Schmitt said.

Lewis & Clark may have had a little breath of life in them after six PLU errors. But the Lutes managed to keep any gap open that was trying to be closed by adding one run in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth on a two-run homer by Johnston.

“I think that with the errors we would let one person score,” Schmitt affirmed. “But we didn’t let it affect the next thing we did.”

The Lutes kept rolling in the nightcap scoring three runs in the first three innings. Johnston got her second round tripper with her three run blast in the fourth inning that started a 12-run inning.

Sophomore Rachel Wheeler-Hoyt pitched a shutout and only allowed three hits in five innings, striking out one and walking none.

Senior Heather Walling, first-year Crystal Reno, and Wheeler-Hoyt went 3-3 on the day. Sophomore Carly Starke, sophomore Vanessa Bryant, and Johnston each had two for PLU.

PLU looks to finish the season strong.

“We’re going to end the season by giving it all we got,” Johnston said.

The Lutes finish the season next weekend with a four-game series against cross-town rival Puget Sound. The first game will be played Saturday at UPS at noon before bringing the end of the doubleheader to PLU Sunday.

Photo by Jenna Callaway

Sophomore Rachel Wheeler-Hoyt runs for home in one of the games versus Willamette at PLU, April 13. The Lutes split with the Bearcats losing the first game and taking the second. The Lutes won both of their games against Lewis & Clark this past weekend.