CALDWELL, Idaho - The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team had a successful first day of its non-conference series against host College of Idaho, earning a doubleheader sweep on Saturday with 3-2 and 6-1 victories.

In the top of the 3rd inning, singles from Dominick Zombik and Tori Doten put two on base for the Lutes (9-4). After pinch-runner Corey Ng came in for Zombik, a trademark Jacob Bockelie double drove both Ng and Doten across home plate, placing the Lutes up 2-0.

After this action, there was yet again a long lapse in scoring on the board, but the strategic power of the Lutes at the plate was shown again, with only two outs in 5 innings coming off of a strikeout. In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Yotes(9-13)  showed a bit of spirit, tying the game up at 2-2.

Marques Carlson started out the top of the ninth inning with a single through the left, and was driven to second on a fielder's choice by Andy Schmitz, who made it on base due to a throwing error.  Ng singled to the pitcher, loading the bases.  A fielder's choice got Carlson out at home, but the bases remained loaded for a Michael Cesar single, which brought Schmitz across home plate for what proved to be the winning run.

On the mound for the Lutes, Justin Armbruester showed yet again why he is a top-level player, pitching 7 1/3 innings for the Lutes and striking out 14 batters while only allowing three hits and one run. Matt Franceschina closed out the game for the Lutes, only allowing one hit for the save.

Game two started out quickly, with an Austin Gormley lead-off single and a Jordan Haworth triple to center left putting the Lutes' first run on the board.  

While the Yotes gained one run back in the bottom of the first, it wasn't enough to compensate for the strength the Lutes showed throughout the rest of the game.

In the fourth inning, consecutive doubles from Max Cummings and Marques Carlson put another run on the board, and a Gormley single through the left side drove in Carlson to take the tally to 3-1 in favor of the Lutes.

In the top of the 5th, Schmitz reached second on an error, opening the field up for a Cesar RBI single to add another run onto the Lutes' growing lead.

In the top of the 8th, the last burst of runs came from the Lutes to secure the sweep. A Cesar double and a Carlson walk put two on base, and they were advanced to second and third. A Doten single up the middle drove both runners in, taking the Lutes' lead and final score to 6-1.  

On the mound for the Lutes, Justin Tucker and Jacob Mortenson combined for nine strikeouts and only one run over nine innings, maintaining the Lute lead throughout the game and warding off any attempts by the Yotes to get back in the game.

"It felt great to have our team take both games of the doubleheader and gives us a lot of confidence going into game three tomorrow," said Cesar.

As a whole, the Lutes had a dominant showing over both games, reminding their opponents why they are a force to be reckoned with.

"All of our pitchers threw well today," said Head Coach Nolan Soete.  "I think we took a step in the right direction defensively as well.  Overall, these were two good wins."

The Lutes return to the Idaho field on Sunday at 10 a.m. for game three of the series.