Written by Student Assistant Christian Bond

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Friday night was a slugfest in the opening day of the Northwest Conference Preseason Tournament as the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team fell 10-7 to host Pacific University.

The Lutes (1-4) surged out to an early 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third before the host Boxers (1-4) exploded for four runs. PLU answered with four in the fourth but it was all Pacific after that with the hosts plating three in the fifth and bringing in three more over the course of the seventh and eighth innings to secure the win.

Jacob Bockelie and Cole Johnson carried the Lutes offensively in Friday's high scoring affair. Bockelie's production started when he singled home Austin Gormley in the third inning. Later in the fourth, Bockelie drove the ball to opposite field, bringing home Wesley Nixon. Bockelie went two-for-five on the day, driving in two and scoring two for the Lutes.

Johnson continued to rake, smashing a pair of doubles for the Lutes. The first came in the third, scoring Bockelie on a shot to the left center field gap. The next inning, Johnson ripped a ball down the left field line, scoring Bockelie and Connor Cantu. Johnson took off his cleats after going three-for-five with two doubles and three RBIs.

Johnson did damage at the plate and on the mound for PLU. The senior went 4 1/3 innings, striking out seven batters. Andrew Curran came on in relief striking out four batters over 1 2/3 innings of work. Cole Kanazawa tallied the win for Pacific, tossing three innings and striking out five.

The Lutes are back on the diamond tomorrow with an 11 a.m. showdown with Whitman College before closing the day against Whitworth University at 5 p.m.