PORTLAND, Oregon – Mikayla Newman had her first three-hit game of the season to lead the Puget Sound softball team to its first Northwest Conference win of the season at Lewis & Clark, 7-5, Saturday afternoon.
 
Puget Sound found itself in an early 3-0 hole entering the second inning. However, Puget Sound rallied for six runs in the frame. Savanna Smith got the big inning started with a one-out single, and then Sofia Gonzales was hit by a pitch and Natalie Wilson walked to load the bases.
 
The Pioneers appeared poised to get out of the inning unscathed when they recorded a strikeout for out number two. However, Hailee Ueyama was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and the a wild pitch allowed Gonzales to score.
 
Newman followed with an RBI single up the middle, and an error added one more run for Puget Sound. Emily Moore came to bat and smacked a double to plate Newman. Moore eventually came around to score on an error by the catcher.
 
In the seventh inning, Moore hit an RBI double after Newman led off with a base hit.
 
Smith threw a complete game in the circle, as she improved to 3-3 on the season.
 
Puget Sound lost the first game of Sunday's doubleheader, 9-1 (5 inn.). An RBI double by Mikayla Johnson in the fourth inning accounted for Puget Sound's lone run.
 
The Loggers and Pioneers have another doubleheader Sunday, March 12.