Written by Student Assistant Christian Bond

NWC Tournament Website

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Despite getting a runner to third base in the top of the ninth, the third-seeded Pacific Lutheran University baseball team was unable to push across the tying run. falling 6-5 to second-seeded Willamette University in the opening round of the Northwest Conference Tournament on Friday at Linfield College.

The Lutes (22-11) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first with Landon Packard getting the Lutes on the board with a two-run homer, scoring Anthony Gosline. PLU would add on to the lead in the second when Ben Welch singled in Matt Vick, nursing a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the second.

"Credit to Goz for getting on before me in that situation," Packard said. "I just got the barrel there and it left the yard. It was big at that moment, but it would feel a lot better if we came out with the win in the end. Have to rebound and come back tomorrow."

Jacob Gleichman was solid in his start on the mound for the Lutes. He gave up six hits in six innings of work, allowing two runs. In 25 batters faced, Gleichman walked just two batters. The right hander struck out three Bearcats (27-12).

Willamette cut the lead to one when they scored two runs in the bottom of the third, making the score 3-2. PLU added to their lead in the sixth when Welch plated Connor Cantu on a  groundout to third.

The Bearcats scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Lutes added a run in the top of the eighth when Jacob Bockelie went yard. He crushed a pitch to the opposite field, making it a one run ball game. Welch led off the top of the ninth with a single, but the Lutes couldn't bring him into score.

"It was a tough loss. We played well, just had one bad inning," Head Coach Nolan Soete said. "Gleichman threw well. We need to come back out tomorrow and play with a lot of focus and energy."

Jacob Bockelie finished three-for-four at the plate while Welch and Vick both finished the game with two base knocks. Willamette's Matt Steindorf tallied the complete game win, scattering 10 hits and striking out three.

PLU will face top-seeded Linfield College tomorrow at noon in an elimination game.