THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - A game one walk-off and game two shutout gave Cal Lutheran softball a Wednesday sweep of Puget Sound at Hutton Field by 4-3 and 10-0 scores.
Box Score (Game 1): CLU 4, UPS 3 - F
Box Score (Game 2): CLU 10, UPS 0 - F/5
After managing to score only one run over the first six innings Cal Lutheran plated 13 over the final five. A three-run seventh inning rally capped off by Brittany Labbe's game-winning hit gave the Regals a game one victory and offensive momentum spilling over into game two.
Cal Lutheran 4, Puget Sound 3 - F
Cal Lutheran entered the bottom of the seventh inning facing a 3-1 deficit and Puget Sound (2-12) pitcher Elayna Van Hess had allowed just seven hits to that point. The Loggers defense had not committed an error through five frames, but down the stretch the Regals took advantage of some untimely Puget Sound miscues.
A misplayed chopper and an infield single, followed by a double steal put the game-tying run in scoring position for Danika Green. A low liner to right field plated the runners and Green advanced to third base after the ball rolled past the UPS outfielder.
Brittany Labbe, who had collected the team's only RBI prior to the inning, took Hess' 1-1 offering back up the middle to bring home the game-winning run. Labbe finished the game 2-for-4 including the walk-off hit.
Kayla Sakamoto pitched a perfect two innings of relief to earn the first victory of her collegiate career. Starting pitcher Katelyn Downing threw 80 pitches over five innings and held the Loggers to just three runs (two earned) and six hits.
UPS' Hess allowed four runs (two earned) in 6.1 innings of work. She walked two and struck out three while throwing 105 pitches in the complete game effort.
Puget Sound ended its streak of 20 scoreless innings after taking a 1-0 third inning lead. Chrissy Atterson's RBI-double put the Loggers on the scoreboard and she finished 2-for-2 with two RBI in the loss.
Cal Lutheran 10, Puget Sound 0 - F/5
A complete team effort allowed Cal Lutheran to earn a double-digit margin victory in a run-rule shortened five innings decision. All nine starters in the Regals lineup collected at least one of the team's 13 base hits.
As a team Cal Lutheran collected 12 of its 13 base hits over the opening three innings of play. Five hits apiece in the first and third innings provided the bulk of the offensive fireworks.
Katelyn Downing plated the game-winning run on a first inning sacrifice fly and finished 2-for-2 with three runs batted in during game two. Labbe, Green, and Sara Lichtsinn each connected for two hits in the victory.
In the circle CLU starting pitcher Nicolby Atallah allowed just three singles and issued only two walks in 4.2 innings of work to pick up her third win of the season. She allowed her defense to aid the shutout effort as the Loggers grounded out 12 times and did not fly out in any of its 19 team plate appearances.
Chrissy Atterson led Puget Sound going 2-for-2 in game two and finished 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI on the day. The rest of the Loggers combined to go 1-for-14 in game two and 5-for-29 in the doubleheader.
Cal Lutheran (8-18) will put its season-long win streak of three games on the line next Thursday, March 22, in a home doubleheader with No. 4 ranked Linfield (12-2).
