Northwest University split a non-league doubleheader with Pacific Lutheran winning the first game 5-2 and dropping the second, 9-1 (5 innings), this afternoon on PLU Field this weekend.
Game 1 – Junior Kelli Peckham pitched a five-hitter as the Eagles defeated the Lutes 5-2 backed up by solid defense which did commit an error.
The game was a scoreless pitching duel until the top of the third inning and the Eagles exploded for four runs. With one out, Courtney Gain reached first on a Lute error and scored on a double by Courtney Cox. With two outs and two runners on base, Ricki Tacdol doubled to right knocking in two runs. Tacdol then scored on a throwing error giving NU a 4-0 lead.
The Lutes threaten to get runs back in their half of the third, loading the bases with two outs, but Peckham ended the inning with a fly out and holding the Lutes scoreless. PLU also left two runners on base in the fourth without a score.
Katelyn Riedinger and Darian Godfrey hit to back-to-back doubles in the top of the 5th inning, scoring Riedinger from second base. PLU did get two runs in the bottom of the 5th when Jessica Alcomendas hit a one out two run home run over the left field fence to close the gap to 5-2.
Peckham would get the final six out of seven batters she faced out to earn the win.
Ricki Tacdol led Northwest U (4-3) going 1-for-3 and two RBIs. Katelyn Riedinger was 2-for-3 and scored twice for the Eagles. Darian Godfrey was 1-for-4 and had one RBI. Peckham went seven innings giving up two runs on five hits and no Eagle errors.
Marissa Miller took the loss for Pacific Lutheran (0-3).
Game 2 – The second game started with a bang for NU as Katelyn Riedinger led off the first inning with a solo shot over the center field fence to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The lead would be short lived as PLU would come right back in their half of the inning scoring two runs off a single to make it a 2-1 game.
NU bats would go quiet for the next three innings as the Lutes would score two runs in the third, one in the fourth and four in the fifth giving them an eight run lead and ending the game in five innings. The Lutes put together nine hits and went errorless on defense to help their cause.
Leah Butters got the win for PLU (1-3) going five innings, giving up one run on three hits. Kierston Perry took the loss for NU going 3 2/3 innings and giving up five runs on five hits. Hannah Yelas and Kelli Peckham also saw action for the Eagles.
Katelyn Riedinger, Darian Godfrey and Katelin Lewis had the three hits for Northwest U (4-4).
