Setting the Scene: After a grueling 16 games on the road to open the season, the Pacific Lutheran University softball squad finally gets to enjoy the luxuries of home, beginning an eight-game homestand with a midweek series against Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark College.
Series History: The Lutes have dominated the all-time series against the River Otters since the series began in 1981 with Pacific Lutheran owning a 134-25 advantage. Despite the overall disparity, it's been a tight series as of late with Lewis & Clark winning three of the five games last season. The two teams split doubleheaders in Tacoma during the regular season last fall before Lewis & Clark prevailed 4-3 in the NWC Tournament on May 9 in McMinnville, Oregon.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (12-4, 4-0 NWC) opens its home slate riding a five-game win streak after a rugged 16-game road stretch to open the season that saw the Lutes play in three different states and play four games against nationally-ranked opponents.
PLU opened Northwest Conference play last weekend with a bang, outlasting host Pacific University 8-6 in extra innings to open the series on Saturday before crushing the Boxers 14-4 in game two. The Lutes rolled on Sunday as well, posting 7-2 and 5-3 victories.
Jaycee Simpliciano was dialed in during the Pacific series, posting a .643 batting average and a .929 slugging percentage with four doubles across the four games. Paola Garcia racked up nine RBIs and scored six runs during the series as the Lutes hit .394 as a team in Forest Grove.
Pitcher Paige Wilson was dialed in, picking up two wins inside the circle with 15 strikeouts across 16 innings pitched.
Prior to NWC play, the Lutes were in both Georgia and California. In Georgia, the Lutes battled reigning national champion Trine University (Ind.), falling short 7-4 before being tested in an 8-0 setback to fifth-ranked Saint Mary's University (Minn). In California, the Lutes earned a series split against 19th-ranked Chapman University, falling 6-1 in the opener before rebounding with a 5-2 win.
Jaycee Simpliciano leads the team at the plate through the first 16 games of 2025, boasting a .590 average with eight doubles. Paola Garcia has a team-best 24 RBIs while scoring 16 runs with nine extra base hits. Kaye Collado is hitting .417 in her first season as a Lute while Zoe Smithson leads the squad in both home runs (three) and stolen bases (seven). Paige Wilson is the workhorse inside the circle with a 6-1 record in eight starts. Wilson has pitched 49 innings this season with 49 strikeouts to her name. Maiya Anderson leads the team with a minuscule 1.34 earned run average, tossing three complete games with 33 strikeouts. Anderson has been tough to hit this season, holding opposing hitters to a .175 batting average.
About the River Otters: Lewis & Clark (9-7, 4-0 NWC) heads to Tacoma undefeated in conference play and riding a three-game win streak. The River Otters were wrapped a up a trip to Georgia with a big 4-2 extra innings upset of 22nd-ranked Emory University on March 14 before securing a doubleheader sweep of College of Saint Benedict to the tune of 1-0 and 2-1 victories.
L&C's four conference wins came back on March 7 & 8 at the expense of visiting Whitworth University. The host River Otters topped the Pirates 6-3 in the series opener before earning an 8-0 mercy rule win in game two. Lewis & Clark was dialed in on day two, collecting 7-2 and 5-0 wins.
Harper Campanella leads the River Otters at the dish, hitting at a .450 clip with 14 RBIs and three of the squad's five home runs. Kodie Ancheta has a .362 batting average with five doubles while Emily Parton is hitting at a .341 clip through the first 16 games of 2026.
Maggie O'Leary has carried the largest load for the River Otter pitching staff, tossing 49 1/3 innings across 10 appearances, including eight starts. O'Leary has 41 strikeouts and a 3.41 earned run average. Charlize Pope has made eight appearances and four starts with a 2.86 ERA.
NWC Preseason Poll
The Lutes look to return to the NWC Tournament for the fifth consecutive season after being picked fourth in the annual preseason coaches' poll. Defending Champion Linfield University sits atop the rankings with 47 points and five first place votes while Lewis & Clark College sits second with 45 points and the remaining three first place endorsements. George Fox University is third with 36 points while the Lutes check in as the top Washington school in fourth place with 30 points.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Home Series:
Mar. 28 vs. Puget Sound at 12 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu