PARKLAND - Pacific Lutheran scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the second game and thus earned a Saturday afternoon sweep of visiting Lewis & Clark in a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader played at the PLU field.

The improbable 6-5 victory in the second game came on the heels of a dominant 14-1 win in the opener. As a result, the Lutes improved their overall record to 20-13 and their NWC mark to 10-10, while Lewis & Clark is now 9-26 overall and 6-14 in the conference.

Game One - PLU 14, Lewis & Clark 1

The Lutes dominated in every phase of the game, collecting season highs in runs scored and hits and also getting outstanding pitching.

With 16 total hits, they scored twice in the first inning, three in the third, three more in the sixth and five in the seventh before the Pioneers got their lone tally in the ninth inning.

There were plenty of hitting stars for PLU. Leadoff hitter Alec Beal was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, Nicholas Hall was 2-for-5 with three runs scored and one batted in, Curtis Wildung was 1-for-2 with three runs scored, and hot-hitting Drew Oord finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four driven in. Carson McCord was 3-for-4 with a run scored and two driven in, and No. 9 hitter Jacob Olsufka was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two driven in and two steals.

Oord, who in four games last week was 12-for-18, had a two-run double in the first and a two-run single in the seventh.

The offense supported an outstanding effort by starting pitcher Max Beatty, who improved his season record to 6-4 by allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out nine in seven innings. Jake Otness finished up, allowing the Pios' lone run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Eric Hyun was 3-for-4 with a run scored and Corey Davis finished 2-for-4 to lead Lewis & Clark's six-hit offensive attack. Liam Healey drove in the run with a single in his only plate appearance.

Aaron Landecker, the starting pitcher and one of three to take the mound for Lewis & Clark, took the loss after allowing eight runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work. 

Game Two - PLU 6, Lewis & Clark 5

Facing a four-run deficit entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the Lutes scored five runs on five hits to pull out the victory.

Until the ninth, Lewis & Clark starting pitcher John Trupin had allowed PLU only one run while effectively scattering nine hits. The Lutes finally got to him, and to relief pitcher Ryan Strombom, for the improbable victory.

With one out, Markus McClurkin hit a line drive to left-centerfield for his third single of the game, and Cory Nelson followed with a single through the left side of the infield. Olsufka followed with a single to left-center, driving in McClurkin to make the score 5-2. Strombom entered the game and coaxed a ground out from Beal, with Nelson and Olsufka advancing a base.

Facing the Pioneers closer who had three saves this season, Clay Trushinsky drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch. With the bases loaded and facing another 3-2 count, the left-handed hitting Wildung lifted a fly ball down the left field line. Just an inning earlier, Lewis & Clark left fielder Matthew Cathcart made a spectacular catch at the warning track to deprive Wildung of extra bases and a RBI. This time, however, Cathcart was playing deep in the gap in left-centerfield, and after a long run he dove for the ball, which hit off of his glove just inches inside the foul line. Wildung ended up with a bases-clearing double and the Lutes had tied the game at 5-5.

After Strombom intentionally walked Oord, who to that point was 6-for-9 in the doubleheader, Carson McCord lined a single into left-centerfield to score Wildung with the game-winning run.

The big rally gave the victory to PLU relief pitcher Chris Bishop, who allowed one hit and one walk while fanning three in 1 1/3 innings of work. He improved his record to 2-3. Starter Collin Nilson went the first 7 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, all earned, on 11 hits. He walk no one and struck out six.

PLU ended the game with 14 hits, including 3-for-4 performances from Oord and McClurkin, and a 2-for-5 effort from McCord.

Lewis & Clark collected 12 hits, with Hyun, Mike Kinkenon, Evan Gray and Cathcart each getting a pair.

Trupin, who got a no decision in this one, allowed four earned run on 12 hits while walking none and striking out four in 8 1/3 innings. Strombom allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in 1/3 inning and took the loss to fall to 1-8 for the season.

The two teams conclude their conference series with a nine-inning game starting at noon on Sunday.

- PLU -