NEWBERG, Ore. - Scoring eight runs in the last three innings of the first game and seven runs in their final two at bats of the second game, the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes broke open two close contests and went on to an 11-1, 12-3 sweep of the George Fox University Bruins in Northwest Conference softball action Saturday afternoon here at Morse Field.

The opener was a tight 1-1 pitchers' duel through four innings, with both teams scoring initially in the 2nd.  PLU got a tainted run when Aubree Pocklington walked, went to second on a ground out, and scored on an error by George Fox pitcher Taylor Whitmore.  The Bruins tied it on a double by Becka Doyle and an RBI single by Erin Lee.

The Lutes broke the tie in the 5th on a single by Stacey Hagensen, an RBI double by Kaaren Hatlen, and another double by Lauren Watson.  PLU added three more in the 6th, the big blow a two-run double by Pocklington, and iced it with five in the 7th.  Ramona Lorton doubled in one run, Monti Califano had an RBI single, another run scored on a throwing error, and Hagensen drilled a two-run home run, her third of the season.

Whitmore (1-5) took the loss for the Bruins, surrendering 14 hits in 7.0 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.  Lorton (2-0) got the win for the Lutes, allowing four hits in 7.0 innings with six strikeouts and no walks.

Doyle had half the Bruins' hits, while Hagensen collected three hits for the Lutes, and Caitlin Brown and Califano had two each.

PLU jumped out to a 5-0 lead after four innings of the nightcap.  A run-scoring ground out by Jackie Martinze and an RBI single by Beth Haahr got two runs across in the 2nd, Hatlen and Watson doubled for a run in the 3rd, and Brown doubled in one run and Hagensen singled in another in the 4th.

The Bruins struck back with a pair in the 5th.  Nicole Renteria, Kerrianne Davidson, and Doyle singled to load the bases, and Shelby Briske doubled to drive in Renteria and Davidson.  Doyle was caught at the plate trying to score also, ending the rally.

PLU expanded its lead with four in the 6th, Brown and Hagensen singling in runs and Hatlen delivering a two-run double.  The Bruins got one back in the home half as Renteria singled in Lee, but the Lutes salted the game away with three 7th-inning runs, Brown singling in two and later scoring on a passed ball.

The Lutes hammered out 17 hits, with Brown, Hagensen, and Haahr getting three apiece and Amber Roberts and Hatlen two each.  Brown had four RBIs.  Renteria, Doyle, and Briske had two hits each among the Bruins' total of 10. 

Lee (2-4) went all the way and suffered the setback for the Bruins, fanning one and walking two.  Hagensen (2-2) went 5.0 innings, allowing eight hits and walking two, to pick up the win.  Martinez worked the final two frames and was touched for two hits and a run, but struck out four while passing two.

George Fox saw its losing streak reach nine as the Bruins fell to 3-9 overall and 0-6 in the conference.  Pacific Lutheran is now 8-3 overall and 6-0 in league play.  The Bruins host the University of Puget Sound while the Lutes visit Lewis & Clark College Saturday, both NWC doubleheaders starting at 12:00 noon.