TACOMA, Wash. – The pitchers were the heroes in the circle and the batter's box today as the Puget Sound softball team came away with a doubleheader sweep of Lewis & Clark. Elayna Van Hess lifted the Loggers (2-2, 2-2 NWC) to a 4-3 win in the first game while Joleen Monfiletto gave the Loggers a 7-6 win in the nightcap.

1^st Game – W, 4-3

Van Hess had already put in a complete game in the circle. She fanned seven batters and held the Pioneers (0-6, 0-4 NWC) to three runs on six hits. However, the Logger offense went silent and the Loggers were down 3-1 going into the bottom of the seventh.

Madison Hollenbeck had allowed just one run and four hits through the first six innings for the Pios. Moriah Lane had back up the strong outing with an RBI-single in the fourth that gave the Pios their first lead at 2-1 and a big solo homer in the sixth.

After Hollenbeck retired Megan Janes to open the seventh, Jenica Holt started the rally with a single up the middle. Brianna Huber flied out  to put the Loggers to their last out.

The Loggers weren't done yet as Aryn Grause singled into left and Chrissy Atterson blooped a single down the right field line to score Holt. Tahni Arndt entered for Atterson and promptly swiped second, putting Loggers on second and third with a chance to tie or win the game.

Van Hess came to the plate and was down to her last strike when she got the pitch she was looking for and lined it off the left field wall for a walkoff Logger win. Grause and Arndt scored easily on the play as the Loggers came from behind for the 4-3 win.

Van Hess ended the game with her first win of the year in the circle and a pair of RBI.

Game 2 – W, 7-6

In another dramatic comeback, it was the pitcher who ultimately delivered the game-winning hit. Monfiletto took her turn to play the hero as she earned the win in the circle and delivered the game-winning hit.

After the Pios scored in the top of the first, the Loggers carried over some momentum from their walkoff win with four runs in the bottom half. Holt led off with and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Huber. Grause reached on an error as Holt moved over to third. After Grause stole second, Atterson walked to load the bases. Then Van Hess walked to force in Holt and tie the game at 1-1.

Marissa Jeffers smacked a sac fly into center to score Grause and Monfiletto's single up the middle brought both Atterson and Van Hess home for the 4-1 lead.

Caitlin Basilio brought the Pios back within one when  she delivered a two-RBI single into left field in the second. Caroline DeVincenzi  smashed a two-run homer in the fourth to reclaim the 5-4 lead for the Pios. Lane further padded the lead with an RBI-single in the fifth to mage it 6-4 Pios.

Late inning magic struck twice for the Logger today as a Grause walk and back-to-back singles from Atterson and Van Hess loaded the  bases in the bottom of the fifth. Grause was cut down at home after a ground ball from Jeffers but the bases remained loaded.

With two outs, the pitcher once again strode to the plate to help herself out this time in the form of Monfiletto. Her towering fly ball into right center found the top of the wall as all three runners came into score for the Loggers to take a 7-6 lead.

Neither team could muster much offense in the final two frames as the Loggers held on for the sweep.

Monfiletto earned her first win in the circle, giving up five runs on six hits ad striking out two. She tossed six innings as Grause threw the first inning. Monfiletto also ended up 2-for-2 at the play with five RBI and a walk.

The Loggers remain home next week to host George Fox in a four-game series. The first doubleheader will take place at noon on Saturday.