Softball swept by the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, fall to 8-19

By Rocky McNeff /// Sports Editor

After a tough spring break tournament in Arizona, the LC softball team finished the weekend with four games against Pacific Lutheran University. The team headed to Tacoma, WA to play on March 28 and March 29.

The first game against the Lutes made for a thrilling and scoreless first five innings. The last two innings proved to be even more rousing. In the top of the sixth, Tiana Rosario (’17) and Jenai Rojo (’17) scored marking their lead over the Lutes 2-0. But their opponents fought back and gained three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Losing by one run, the Pioneers brought in three runs in the top of the last inning, but could not hold onto their 5-3 lead as PLU scored three runs to win the game 6-5.

Madison Hollenbeck (’15) stepped off the mound after the first game and Kalin Rooney (’17) took the reigns as pitcher for the second game. The Pioneers looked strong once they scored first in the third inning, taking the lead until the Lutes scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. LC came back with a tying run from Maddie Lee (’15) in the top of the seventh but a hit in the bottom of the seventh brought in the winning run for PLU.

In the third game, LC once again scored first with two runs but were followed by four runs from the Lutes. The Pioneers scored twice more but their opponents followed in suit. Both teams were showing their strong sides but PLU was determined to equalize LC’s score each game. The third game ended with a 6-4 loss for the Pioneers.

The final game of the weekend took a different form as the Lutes stepped up to bat in the bottom of the second inning and managed to bring in five runs. After the first two innings pitched by Jill Pinder (’18), Hollenbeck stepped back up to the mound and won the last four innings allowing only run in from PLU while LC scored two late in the game. However, two runs was not enough to bring home the win and PLU took the game 6-2.

LC is now in sixth place in the Northwest Conference with a record of 5-11.

Softball will face third place Pacific University at Forest Grove on April 3 and April 4.