PARKLAND, Wash. - Defending NCAA Division III national champion Pacific Lutheran University won the first game of  a Northwest Conference doubleheader 9-1 in five innings, but the George Fox University Bruins, led by two home runs by Bethany Chriss, outslugged the Lutes 9-8 in the second game for a split Sunday afternoon here at the PLU softball field.

By salvaging the final game of the four-game series, George Fox saw its record go to 13-9 overall and 10-6 in the NWC.  PLU is now 11-7 overall and 8-4 in the conference.

Game 1 - Pacific Lutheran 9, George Fox 1

PLU used three multi-run innings and a five-hit, three-strikeout performance by Kelsey Robinson (4-2) to win the opener in a game shortened to five frames by the 'eight-run mercy' rule.

George Fox got on the board with a run on two hits and an error in the 2nd inning, Felicia Chavez singling in Erika Cremeen, but after that, it was all Lutes.  PLU tallied four runs in the home half on five hits, including a two-run single by Montessa Califano, an RBI bunt single by Glenelle Nitta, and heads-up base running by Califano, who took home when Nitta got in a rundown between first and second.

PLU added two more in the 3rd on a home run to center by Kaaren Hatlen, her third of the year, and Haley Harshaw's single, and extended the lead to 7-1 with a run in the 4th. An error, a single by Nitta, and a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt by Amanda Hall accounted for the run.  The Lutes scored two in the bottom of the 5th to end the game, a hit batter, wild pitch, throwing error and another wild pitch netting the two runs.

The Lutes finished with nine hits, including two apiece by Nitta, Robinson, and Harshaw.   George Fox was led on the offensive side by Nicole Renteria with a pair of singles.  The loss went to Allyssa DenDekker (5-2), who allowed all nine hits and seven runs, six earned, with no strikeouts and three walks in 4.0 innings.

Game 2 - George Fox 9, Pacific Lutheran 8

In the second game, the Bruins used a pair of four-run innings to build a big early lead, then had to hang on for the win over the Lutes.  PLU scored the game's initial run in the bottom of the 1st as Califano and Nitta had back-to-back singles, and when Nitta was called out at second on a steal attempt, Califano was able to score when the shortstop dropped the ball.

The Bruins exploded for four runs in each of the next two innings. They collected four hits, including a RBI double by Naomi Lee, a two-run single by Kayla Anderson, and good base running that netted the final run as the PLU infield tried unsuccessfully to gun down two runners advancing an extra base in the 3rd.

In the 4th, George Fox collected seven hits, including a leadoff home run by Chriss. Lee had her second straight RBI double, Felicia Chavez drove in a run with a single, and the final run scored on Anderson's base hit to center field.

The Lutes started to rally with two in the 3rd as Spencer Sherwin singled, stole second, and scored on Califano's base hit. Califano went to second on the throw home, moved up on a fly to right, and scored on Hall's sacrifice fly to right.

Pacific Lutheran pulled within 8-7 with four runs on four hits and two Bruin errors in the 5th. Harshaw led off with a double and came in on Califano's base hit, and the PLU leadoff hitter later scored on a wild pitch. Lauren Watson delivered a run-scoring pinch single to right, and Dewey Davis plated the final run with a single through the left side of the infield. The Lutes had a chance for more, but a fly out ended the inning with the bases loaded.

Chriss hit her second solo homer of the game and her third of the series in the top of 6th to extend the lead to 9-7, this one clearing the fence in right-center and, as it turned out, making the difference in the George Fox victory.

PLU's final rally in the 7th came up one run short. A leadoff walk and a single by Hatlen put pinch runners Kelli Crawford and Alison Behrends on base.  Katie Lowery smoked a single to left, but the throw from Renteria to shortstop Anderson to catcher Genetta Duncan was in plenty of time to cut down Crawford.  Emily Streeter followed with a base hit up the middle to drive in a run, but Erin Hento, on in relief, struck out the final two batters to end the game with the potential tying run at second.

There was plenty of offense as the Bruins scored nine runs on 15 hits, while the Lutes had eight runs on 12 hits.  Leading the George Fox offense was Anderson, who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Chriss, Jenna Kirk, Lee, Kat Hylton and Chavez all had two hits. Chriss, Lee and Chavez each scored two runs.  Califano was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs to lead Pacific Lutheran.

Amanda Woods (1-1) was the winning pitcher, allowing six earned runs in eight hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. Hento got the save, her fifth of the season.  Hatlen (3-3) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work.

NEXT: Both teams now step out of conference action for a while to make spring break road trips.  George Fox is at California Lutheran University for a doubleheader on Monday, Mar. 25, at 11:00 a.m., while Pacific Lutheran visits the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor that same day for a 10:00 a.m. twinbill.