NEWBERG, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran split a pair of Northwest Conference men's tennis matches played this weekend in Oregon, losing to Willamette on Friday night before defeating George Fox on Saturday.

Willamette won two of three doubles matches and recorded victories at four of the six singles positions in defeating PLU, 6-3, at the Courthouse Tennis Club on Friday night.

The Lutes improved their overall and Northwest Conference records to 6-2 on Saturday with an 8-1 win over George Fox.

The Bearcats put an end to a long string of losses to PLU by playing solid tennis throughout the match. Willamette picked up an 8-4 win from Michael Baumgartner and Luke Lagattuta at No. 2 doubles and an 8-3 triumph from Matthew Houser and Micah Mack at No. 3 doubles. The Lutes got their doubles point from Joel Trudel and Justin Peterson, who took a 9-7 win at No. 1.

Baumgartner upset Trudel at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-3, to set the pace for the Bearcats in singles play. Other Willamette winners were Joshua Wong at No. 3, Houser at No. 4 and Lagattuta at No. 5. Justin Peterson took a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win at No. 2 and Brent Smoots grabbed a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 6 for PLU's singles wins.

The Lutes swept all three doubles matches to get off to a strong start against George Fox. Trudel and Peterson remained unbeaten in eight matches this year with an 8-3 victory. Smoots and Tyler Dickey won by a 9-7 margin at No. 2 and Scott Sheldon and Brian Higginbotham teamed up for a 8-5 triumph at No. 3.

PLU won the top five singles matches to close out the Bruins. Trudel, Peterson, Sheldon, Dickey and Higginbotham all won their matches in straight sets.

- PLU -