NEWBERG, Ore. – Northwest Conference-leading Pacific Lutheran University, riding high with consecutive wins over NCAA Division III national champion Linfield College and a No. 7 national ranking, rode into town and took a pair of softball games from the George Fox University Bruins, 7-2 and 3-2, Saturday afternoon here at Morse Field.

Game 1 - Pacific Lutheran 7, at George Fox 2

Stacey Hagensen (8-3) hit a double and home run and threw a complete-game victory as the Lutes took the opener from the Bruins.  On the hill, she scattered nine hits, struck out four, and walked only one, allowing an RBI single to Kerrianne Davidson in the 4th to drive in Felicia Chavez, and a run-scoring hit to Chavez in the 5th that scored Jenny Milton, who had singled and advanced on a ground out.

The Lutes scored two in the 2nd, two in the 3rd, and three in the 4th, all off Bruin starter Rachel Fielder (4-2).  In the 2nd, Lindsey Matsunaga singled, Glenelle Nitta walked, and after a double steal, Katie Lowery singled them both in.  Hagensen homered to lead off the 3rd, and Matsunaga later doubled in Spencer Sherwin, pinch-running for Kaaren Hatlen, who had singled.  Hatlen doubled in two runs and scored on a single by Amanda Hall in the 5th.

Allyssa DenDekker threw 3.1 innings of one-hit shutout ball for the Bruins, but it was too little, too late.  Montessa Califano, Hagensen, Hatlen, Hall and Matsunaga had two hits each for the Lutes, while the Bruins got two safeties apiece from Milton, Bethany Chriss, and Davidson.

Game 2 - Pacific Lutheran 3, at George Fox 2

DenDekker (2-3) kept pitching through the second game and shut out the powerful Lutes for six innings, only to surrender three runs in the 7th to suffer the hard-luck loss.  She spaced five hits and allowed only one earned run, fanning one and walking two.

The Bruins got a run off winner Hatlen (6-0) in the 2nd and made it stand up for most of the game.  Chriss and McKenzie Beeson singled, advanced on a sacrifice, and Chriss scored on Nicole Renteria's ground out. 

Down to their last three outs, the Lutes rallied in the 7th, loading the bases on singles by Hagensen and Hatlen and a walk to Hall.  Two runs scored on a dropped fly ball by Matsunaga to left, and Nitta's fielder's choice grounder scored Melissa Harrelson, running for Hall.

The Bruins tried to rally in the home half.  Renteria singled, moved up on a sacrifice, and went to third on a single by Genetta Bennett.  Hagensen replaced Hatlen and gave up an RBI ground out to Milton, then stranded the tying run at second as Kris Trindle grounded to first.

Hagensen had two hits for the Lutes, while Chriss and Bennett had two hits each off Hatlen, who struck out five and walked none in her 6.1 innings.  Hagensen notched her second save.

NEXT: George Fox (11-10, NWC 6-5) and Pacific Lutheran (15-5, NWC 13-1) conclude their four-game series Sunday at 12:00 noon.