ANTHEM, Ariz. – An early pitchers' duel gave way to some late runs as Pacific Lutheran scored twice in the top of the ninth inning and AJ Konopaski pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the frame to give the Lutes a 4-3 nonconference baseball win over Redlands at the Arizona Baseball Classic.

With the game tied at 2-2 going into the top of the ninth, the Lutes took advantage of a Redlands error and some clutch hitting to tack on a pair of runs. Collin Nilson reached on a one-out error, and Curtis Wildung followed with a single through the right side. Tanner Bogart made his season debut as a pinch runner at second base, and a balk advanced both runners into scoring position.

Kit Banko drove in Bogart with the go-ahead run on a hard ball up the middle, and Nicholas Hall dropped a single into left field to score Wildung with what proved to be the winning run. That brought Konopaski in from the bullpen looking for his second consecutive save in the bottom of the frame. But the Bulldogs were not ready to go down without a fight, piecing together a leadoff single on the first pitch and a double to right center to put runners at second and third with no outs.

A groundball to short picked up the first out but also drove in a run and advanced the tying runner to third base. But PLU's closer struck out the next two batters to clinch the win and earn the save.

Chris Bishop pitched seven innings while yielding one run on four hits with five strikeouts, one walk and one hit batsman. Jake Otness pitched the eighth inning and picked up the win for the Lutes. Alec Beal finished the game with a pair of hits, as did Tyler Thompson, with one of Thompson's hits going for a long double off the fence in left center. Drew Oord tallied three hits and drove in a run, while Banko tallied two RBIs on one hit and Wildung reached base three times on a hit and two walks.

Pacific Lutheran will play a pair of games on Saturday, taking on top-ranked reigning national champion Linfield in the morning before an afternoon matchup against Whittier.

(NOTE: Complete box score not available)