PORTLAND, Ore. – Lewis & Clark College softball won its fourth consecutive Northwest Conference series with a doubleheader split against Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, its first series win over the Lutes in at least 35 years.  
 
THE BASICS
 
Lewis & Clark 9, Pacific Lutheran 4
Pacific Lutheran 8, Lewis & Clark 6
(Lewis & Clark 19-9, 13-3 NWC)
(Pacific Lutheran 11-17, 6-10 NWC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Seniors Sam Gildersleeve and Mari Alvarez each hit two home runs, and freshman Harper Campanella added another for the Pioneers. Alvarez went 3-6 with five RBI and three runs scored. Gildersleeve added four RBI and three runs scored on two hits, while Campanella had three RBI and three runs scored.
 
Sophomore Madison Scroggins had a team-high four hits on the day, with an RBI double and three runs scored.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
 
Maggie O'Leary started her second game in as many days and retired the first five batters she faced before surrendering three consecutive singles and allowing her first earned run in over 16 innings. The sophomore quickly recovered by striking out the final batter of the second inning.
 
Alvarez hit a lead-off double in the bottom of the inning to give Lewis & Clark their first scoring opportunity. Sophomore Emily Patton hit a single through the right side to advance Alvarez to third. Freshman Abby Yamashita hit an RBI single to score Alvarez and tie the game after two innings.
 
Scroggins hit a lead-off single in the third to set up another scoring chance for the Pioneers. Gildersleeve hit her seventh home run of the season over the center field fence to give Lewis & Clark a 3-1 lead.
 
Junior Katie Ingersoll laid down a two-out bunt in the fourth inning to reach first, then stole second. Sophomore Gina Ozuna hit an RBI double to left field to extend the Pioneers lead to three runs after four innings.
 
Gildersleeve earned a walk to start the fifth inning, then advanced to second on a single by Campanella. Alvarez recorded her second hit of the day and sent the ball over the left-field fence for a three-run homer and a 7-1 Lewis & Clark lead.

Pacific Lutheran earned a run back with a lead-off home run to right field in the top of the sixth inning. It was the first home run hit off O'Leary since March 16.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Ozuna earned a one-out walk to put a runner on for the Pioneers. Scroggins hit an RBI double to center field, scoring Ozuna from first base. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Scroggins scored for the second time in the game on a sacrifice fly by Gildersleeve.
 
The Lutes hit their second home run off O'Leary in the top of the seventh inning, this time a two-run shot to left field with no outs. Sophomore Charlize Pope entered the game and retired the next three Pacific Lutheran batters to secure the 9-4 win.  
 
GAME TWO RECAP
 
Pacific Lutheran had their strongest start of the weekend in the second game on Sunday. The Lutes put their first three batters on base and scored a run before the Pioneers recorded the first out on a bunt that advanced runners to second and third. Pacific Lutheran went up 2-0 with one out on an RBI single down the right-field line, prompting a pitching change for Lewis and Clark.
 
Pope came on to relieve sophomore Tallulah Sickels with runners on the corners and one out. A double, a fielder's choice, a single, and another fielder's choice all scored runs for the Lutes before Pope was able to retire the side. Of those, Pope was only credited with one earned run, but Pacific Lutheran held a 6-0 lead after one inning.  
 
The Pioneers began chipping away at the deficit in the second inning when Alvarez hit her second home run down the left field line with Campanella on base, making it 6-2.
 
An inning later, Ozuna and Scroggins hit back-to-back singles before Gildersleeve popped up to the catcher for the first out. Campanella then launched the ball over the center field fence for three runs, and Lewis & Clark was within a run after three innings.
 
Gildersleeve tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with her second home run of the day, a solo shot to center field.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, the Lutes had runners on the corners and two outs. Pacific Lutheran's Rylie Wada took off for second base, and Alvarez attempted to throw her out, but Ozuna intercepted the throw as she recognized that Casey Wright was headed for home. Ozuna's throw was high, allowing Wright to score and giving the Lutes a 7-6 lead.
 
Pacific Lutheran extended their lead to 8-6 on an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning to put pressure on the Pioneers.
 
The Pioneers earned their first base runner with a lead-off walk to Ozuna. Scroggins then reached on a fielder's choice as Ozuna was thrown out at second. The Lutes then retired the next two batters to secure the win.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• The Pioneers' three home runs in game 2 are tied for the second most by a team this season in the NWC.
• Alvarez moved into the top five in program history against the Lutes with 77 career RBI (4th) and 131 career hits (5^th). She is sixth in program history with 16 career home runs.
• The Pioneers tied last year's team for the most NWC wins in program history (13) and the second-most overall wins (19).
• Lewis & Clark won their first series against Pacific Lutheran since at least 1986.   

WHO'S NEXT
 
The Pioneers host #3 Linfield University on Saturday for a NWC doubleheader with first pitch scheduled at Noon. Lewis & Clark will be holding a dedication ceremony for the newly renovated Joe Huston Memorial Sports Complex prior to the games at 11:15 a.m.