McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Pacific Lutheran scored only one run for the second straight day as the top-ranked Linfield Wildcats defeated the Lutes 6-1 Sunday afternoon to complete a three-game Northwest Conference baseball sweep at Roy Helser Field.

The Lutes' third straight loss drops their record to 16-12 overall and 8-6 in conference play, while Linfield improves to 24-3 overall and 17-1 in the NWC. PLU returns to action Tuesday, when the Lutes will travel to Lacey for a 4 p.m. nonconference game against Saint Martin's.

Derrick Mahlum allowed four earned runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings to fall to 5-3 on the season. Jake Otness pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Lutes, limiting the Wildcats to only one walk with two strikeouts. Aaron Thomassen improved to 6-1 with the win for Linfield, pitching six shutout innings while striking out seven and allowing only three hits.

Linfield took the lead early with three runs in the bottom of the first. The first five Wildcats reached base via hit, and the hosts left the bases loaded in the inning. They added to their lead in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a hit, a walk and a PLU error to score two unearned runs and make it 5-0.

Curtis Wildung gave the Lutes their first hit of the game in the top of the third, doubling to right center, but he was stranded there after back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. Alec Beal and Drew Oord each singled in the top of the fourth, but once again two strikeouts helped end the frame.

Linfield's final run came in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Nick Fisher. The Lutes finally ended the shutout in the top of the eighth, as Wildung reached on an error and advanced to third on another error before coming in to score on a fielder's choice groundout by Tyler Thompson.