HILLSBORO, Ore. – Pacific scored two run in the bottom of the eighth to break a 3-3 tie as the Boxers defeated Pacific Lutheran 5-3 to conclude a Northwest Conference baseball series Sunday night at Ron Tonkin Stadium.

The Lutes got on the board in the top of the first as Connor Cantu led off with a walk, Drew Oord singled and Cantu came in to score on a double-play ground ball. Pacific responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to claim a 2-1 lead, but the Lutes bounced back with two more runs in the top of the third. Cantu again opened the frame with a walk, and Oord and Landon Packard followed with walks to load the bases. Another double-play ground ball scored Cantu to tie the game before an RBI single by Brett Johnson made it 3-2.

That lead lasted until the bottom of the fifth, when Pacific manufactured the game-tying run with a two-out bunt single, a stolen base and an RBI single to right. A double and a triple in the bottom of the eighth helped the Boxers pick up the two runs that proved to be the difference in the game.

Cory Nelson started on the mound for the Lutes and allowed three earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched before Garrett Brown took over and pitched the final 2.1 innings to take the loss. Oord reached base three times with two hits and a walk, while Johnson and Cantu each reached twice for the Lutes.

Pacific Lutheran returns home to host Willamette in a three-game series next weekend. The Lutes and Bearcats play a doubleheader Saturday, with the first game set to start at 11 a.m., before wrapping up the series Sunday at 12 p.m.