By Christian Bond, PLU Sports Information Student Writer

SPOKANE – A Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader between two of the preseason favorites lived up to its billing, as Pacific Lutheran and 14th-ranked Whitworth split the first two games of their three-game series Saturday afternoon at Merkel Field.

Pacific Lutheran scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth to claim the opener 6-5 before Whitworth bounced back with a 3-1 victory to close out the day. The teams will meet for the series' rubber game Sunday at 12 p.m.

Game one was tied at five going into the ninth inning. Ben Welch led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Drew Oord. Brett Johnson stepped to the plate with two outs and delivered a clutch double down the left field line. Welch scored, putting PLU up 6-5 with three outs left to get in the game.

"It was a big-time hit by Brett," PLU head coach Nolan Soete said. "He had good swings at the plate in that first game and came up clutch when we needed him to."

Garrett Brown stole the show on the mound late in game one when he came on in relief. The senior pitcher faced nine batters in three innings of work and shut down the Whitworth offense, striking out the last seven batters he faced to end the game in dominant fashion.

"Garrett has been in big situations before," Soete said. "He came in on short notice with the game tied and basically shut the door for us."

Game two was a low-scoring affair dominated by pitching. Ty Donahou got the start for the Lutes and pitched six innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. Jacob Gleichman came on in relief and pitched the final two innings while only allowing two hits.

"Donahou threw well," Soete said. "He grinded; he didn't have his best stuff, but anytime your starter only gives up two runs in six innings is a good day."

Tyler Thompson drove in the only run of game two for PLU. He singled in a run in the second inning to give the Lutes an early 1-0 lead. Thompson played well offensively both games, leading the Lutes with two hits and two walks in four plate appearances in game two after compiling a pair of hits in the opener.

"Thompson was better at the plate today," Soete said. "He worked hard all week long and had good at bats during the second game. As a team we couldn't get anything going in the second game and it cost us."

Whitworth rallied back to tie it with a run in the bottom of the third, and the Pirates tacked on the eventual game-winner in the fourth and one more in the fifth. TJ Orchard pitched eight innings to earn the win for the Pirates. Welch scored three runs and tallied two hits in the opener, while Cole Johnson picked up a pair of hits in the game. The Lutes will look to pick up the series win Sunday.

"It's going to take a complete team effort," Soete said. "Our pitchers are going to need to be able to hit spots. Offensively we are going to need quality at bats all game long. I have complete confidence in our guys. Anytime you can come over to Spokane and play for a series is exciting."