Written by Student Assistant Sarah Cornell-Maier

TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team completed the sweep on Sunday of Whitworth University, downing the Pirates 15-9 and 6-2 to secure first place in the Northwest Conference standings.

The Lutes (12-8, 10-2 NWC) picked up game two in the top of the 8th inning with a 15-7 lead. Sophomore pitcher Janson Pederson picked up where he left off yesterday, and only let in two runs in as many innings to maintain the win for the Lutes. PLU built that lead on the strength of a six-run fifth inning while pushing across three in the fourth and a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh frames.

Connor Cantu and Jacob Bockelie both finished with four hits while Canti and Cole Johnson both tallied four RBIs.

In the final game of the series, the first inning started as Connor Cantu was walked to lead off the game, followed by a powerful double by Anthony Gosline to move Cantu to third. Bockelie was walked to load the bases, and Cole Johnson hit into a double play ball that scored Cantu from third.

The Pirates got one back in the top of the second, but the Lutes struck again in the bottom of the second. Tori Doten hit a two-out single into left center, and advanced to second on a walk to Cantu. Gosline came up to the plate and hit an RBI single to drive Doten in to put the Lutes back on top at 2-1

In the bottom of the fourth, Adam Stump got on base off an infield single that was dropped by the second baseman for Whitworth. Gosline reached on a dropped third strike passed ball, advancing Stump to second. Bockelie was walked to load the bases for Johnson in similar fashion to the bottom of the third. Johnson was walked to bring in Stump, taking the Lutes to a 3-1 lead.

Lute Pitcher Justin Armbruester had a dominant performance on the mound, playing for 7 2/3 innings and only allowing two runs and five hits during his time in the game.

"It felt really good to get my first college win!" said Armbruester. "Overall I'm happy with my performance today and loved having the team behind me."

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Cantu got on base via another walk, and was driven in by a two-out double down the left field line from Bockelie to take the Lutes to a 4-1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Matt Vick hit a single to get on base, and moved to second on a single from Doten. A two-out, two RBI double from Cantu drove in both runners, taking the PLU lead to 6-1.

A Pirates run in the top of the eighth was not enough to overcome the offense put up by the Lutes, and the final score on the day was 6-2.

"We had a good game today," said Head Coach Nolan Soete. "Armbruester threw well and we had some timely hits. I thought Cantu, Gosline and Bockelie all had a good day offensively. We played pretty good defense as well."

The Lutes close out their homestand on Tuesday, welcoming crosstown rival University of Puget Sound to PLU Field with first pitch set for 3:30 p.m.