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TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University Baseball team had a rough showing against the visiting Lewis & Clark Pioneers, dropping the final two games of the series against the Pios with scores of 8-12 and 4-8. Â
The Lutes started off Game 1 in a hole, with the Pios collecting 5 runs in the first two innings while the Lutes were unable to answer in kind. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, the bases were loaded when Michael Cesar got hit by a pitch, Marques Carlson reached on a fielding error, and Max Cummings got hit by a pitch, opening up the chances for Tori Doten to get an RBI. Doten reached base on a fielder's choice that scored Cesar, and then Cam Clem drove in Carlson on a single to left center. Jordan Haworth was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, and and Austin Gormley hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Doten, closing out the inning with a score of 3-5.
Lewis & Clark got additional runs in the top of the 5th and the 6th, taking their lead to 7-3 heading into the bottom of the 6th. Cummings, Doten, and Haworth were all walked to load the bases, and a walk to Jacob Bockelie brought Cummings around to score. With the bases loaded, Andy Schmitz smashed a triple to right field, driving in Doten, Haworth, and Bockelie to tie up the game at 7.
The game stayed tied until the top of the 9th, where the Pios struck back with a 5-run inning to retake the lead. While the Lutes gained one back in the bottom of the 9th off of consecutive doubles from Cesar and Cummings, it wasn't enough to overtake the lead the Pios had established, and the Lutes fell with a final score of 8-12.
"Our first game today didn't go as we wanted it all around," said Andy Schmitz. "We didn't hit very well, and our pitching and defense was not on. There were a few positives that we took away from the game, and hopefully we can take those into our next series against Linfield and learn from our mistakes."
In the second game, the Lutes started off with a lead, with Bockelie walking and scoring on a fielding error that allowed Cummings to get on base in the bottom of the 2nd inning. However, the Pios hit back with 2 in the top of the 3rd, one in the top of the 4th, and 3 in the top of the 5th to take a 1-6 lead over the Lutes.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Lutes started to mount a comeback, with walks to Jack Hannah, Jack Robinette, and Michael Cesar loading the bases for Jacob Mortensen. Mortensen, who usually pitches for the Lutes, was playing second base, and thus got the opportunity to rack up his first at-bats for the Lutes. Mortensen took full advantage of this opportunity, smashing a 2-RBI single to left field, driving in Hannah and Robinette. Mortensen and Cesar were then advanced a base and Schmitz was walked, loading the bases for Bockelie. Bockelie was hit by a pitch, driving in Mortensen who got the chance to score a run for the Lutes in addition to his RBIs.
"It feels good to be able to contribute to the team in more than one facet of the game," said Mortensen. "It's frustrating that our efforts came up short today, but I think this weekend was a real wake up call for the team, and I have confidence that no matter who Coach puts out there that we will get the job done next time."
Unfortunately, Lewis & Clark scored two more runs in the top of the 9th, and while the Lutes attempted to make a comeback they were ultimately unsuccessful, falling with a final score of 4-8.
The Lutes will head down to McMinnville, Oregon this next weekend to take on Linfield college in a 3-game series. Game 1 starts at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. |
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