PARKLAND – Cory Nelson limited the Linfield offense to two unearned runs in a complete-game pitching performance as 17th-ranked Pacific Lutheran picked up a 5-2 rubber game victory over the 14th-ranked Wildcats in Northwest Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon.

"It was a good team win today," PLU head coach Nolan Soete said. "Cory did an excellent job controlling the game on the mound. He went the distance and really came up big for us."

Nelson picked up his first win of the season after pitching all nine innings, striking out four while allowing six hits and five walks. He threw 116 pitches while giving up only two unearned runs in the top of the second.

Three Lute runs in the fourth proved to be the difference, as three straight doubles turned a two-run deficit into a one-run lead. Drew Oord forced a full-count walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Brett Johnson brought him home with a double to left, and Frank Airey stepped in to pinch hit and followed with a double of his own to tie the game. The Lutes took the lead a few minutes later when Connor Cantu doubled to left center to bring Airey in.

"We only had six hits, but we made them count," Soete said. "Frank came off the bench and had a clutch two-out double to tie the game, and he scored the go-ahead run and later drove in another run with a late sacrifice fly."

PLU added two late insurance runs, one in the seventh and one in the eighth. Another Cantu double opened the seventh inning, and he advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jacob Clements drove him in with an infield groundball that forced a Linfield error. The Lutes' final run came one inning later, as Oord walked and Landon Packard singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Airey followed with a fly ball to center to score Oord and make it a 5-2 lead.

Sunday's victory gave PLU the series win over Linfield for the second straight year and improved the Lutes' record to 6-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

"I am proud of the progress we made this weekend," Soete said. "It wasn't a great team offensive performance, but we faced some good arms and were able to scratch out some runs when we needed them."

One week into the conference season the Lutes are tied for second in the standings, one game behind George Fox (3-0). PLU heads to Oregon next weekend for a three-game series against Pacific in Forest Grove. The Lutes and Boxers will square off in a doubleheader Saturday before wrapping up the series Sunday afternoon.