Written by Student Assistant Sarah Cornell-Maier

TACOMA, Wash. – In a tough day of competition, the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team earned a doubleheader split against Willamette University on Saturday, winning the opener 8-4 and dropping the second 10-3.

In the first game of the day, the Lutes started off behind and didn't put any runs on the board until the fourth inning. In the fourth, a Cole Johnson walk set up for a two-run home run from Marques Carlson, getting the Lutes (18-10, 16-4 Northwest Conference) on the board and moving them with one run of the Bearcats (17-14, 9-9 NWC).

The Bearcats scored another run in the top of the fifth, but it was no match for the Lutes' attack in the bottom of the fifth.

The inning started out with an Adam Stump double to left field, and Tori Doten was walked to put runners on first and second. Anthony Gosline came up to bat, and hit a soaring three-run homer to right center field, barely missing the scoreboard to put the Lutes on top.

In that same inning, Jacob Bockelie was hit by a pitch to get on base, and then stole second. Johnson was walked again, and Carlson walked to load the bases for Max Cummings, who hit a double down the right field line to score Johnson and Bockelie.

Stump was then hit by a pitch, re-loading the bases. Carlson was then driven home by a walk to Doten, giving the Lutes the 8-4 edge in what turned out to be the final runs of the game.

On the mound, Cole Johnson had an absolutely dominant performance, making his way through 31 at bats on his way to throwing a complete game. He struck out three batters while only allowing three earned runs, eventually coming away with the win for the Lutes.

"The complete game is a pretty cool accomplishment," said Johnson. "The first few innings were a little shaky, but I really settled down in the later innings. Our defense was spectacular today. Tori, Marques, and Cantu were all big time during that game."

In the second day, things didn't go the Lutes' way, with a final score of 10-3 in the Bearcats' favor.

The Lutes started off the game with a lead through the first two innings. Cantu doubled to center field, a Gosline sacrifice fly moved Cantu to third, and a Bockelie single drove Cantu in to open up the scoring in the game.

Willamette got two back in the top of the third to take the lead, but the Lutes came back and regained the lead for a short period in the fifth. Cantu singled to center field, and Gosline reached first on a bunt-turned-infield hit. They both moved up a base on a balk by the Willamette pitcher, and a Bockelie single drove both runners in to increase the PLU score to 3-2.

Unfortunately, late game action from Willamette wasn't returned by the Lutes, and they managed to get ahead 10-3, the final score of the game.

One bright spot in the second game was the return of Tanner Zuber as a relief pitcher.

"We had a rough time on the mound in game three," said Head Coach Nolan Soete. "One bit of positive play we saw from our pitchers today was having Zuber back. Hopefully we can move forward and continue his energy into the rest of the season."

The Lutes return to PLU field on Monday, as they take on the Loggers of the University of Puget Sound at 3:30 p.m.

"As far as game two today goes, we just have to move on. It's a tough loss, but you can't change the past," said Johnson. "I think our team understands that and is excited for an opportunity for another league game on Monday."