By Christian Bond, Sports Information Student Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. - Cory Nelson pitched eight innings and freshman Marques Carlson drove in three runs to lead the Lutes to a 9-5 win in Game 1 and the Lutes rallied from five runs down in Game 2 to claim a 10-8 win and doubleheader sweep over Lewis & Clark on Saturday afternoon. 

The Lutes (21-15, 14-8) scored their nine runs in three innings in Game 1. Brett Johnson's double in the third inning scored Cole Johnson and Tyler Thompson to give the Lutes their first lead of the game. The Lutes would tack on one more in the third on a fielder's choice groundout by Carlson and two more in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead. The Lutes rounded out their scoring in the seventh inning with four runs highlighted by a pair of RBI singles by Johnson and Thompson. 

"We did a good job hitting mistakes and we did a good job working counts," PLU head coach 
Nolan Soete said.

Nelson got the start on the mound for the Lutes. Nelson pitched eight innings allowing five 
hits, three earned runs and two walks while striking out six. Garrett Brown came on in relief and 
struck out the only batter he faced. 

"Nelson did a great job today," Soete said. "He left some pitches up in the zone in the 8th, but he 
was lights out for the most part."

In Game 2, the Lutes scored nine runs in the final four innings to erase a 6-0 deficit.

With Lutes trailing 6-5 in the seventh inning, Drew Oord homered to tie the game. The score remained that way until the eighth inning when the Lutes completed their comeback and took a 10-6 lead.

Casey Dawes led off the inning with a double and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Frank Airey. Ben Welch then singled up the middle to give Lutes their first lead of the game. Oord followed with another single setting the table for Thompson's three-run homerun. The homerun was Thompson's sixth of the season. 

"Our offense did a great job coming back," Soete said. "We didn't have a hit until the sixth inning, 
but we were hitting balls hard all day and getting a little unlucky. Oord, Thompson, Airey and Welch really had some clutch hits today."

Lee Larson pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief, allowing one earned run and striking out three. Garrett Brown came in for the final 1 2/3 innings of the game, striking out four batters. The 
Lutes combined for 12 strikeouts in game two of the doubleheader.

"Lee Larson did a great job out of the pen and Brown did a great job closing it out," Soete said. 
"I'm proud of this team, they have worked extremely hard all year."

The series concludes Sunday at noon. 

WHAT IT MEANS...

The Lutes have earned a spot in the Northwest Conference tournament and will have a chance to earn the second seed pending the outcome of tomorrow's game.