McMINNVILLE, Ore. - The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team took game three of its Northwest Conference series against Linfield College in dominant fashion, racking up an 8-4 win to secure the series sweep on Sunday.

The Lutes (16-8, 8-4 NWC) started off the game on a Jordan Haworth single, and he promptly advanced to second on a passed ball. This put him in prime position, and a single to left from Marques Carlson drove in Haworth to score the first run of many for the Lutes, and PLU left the first inning with a lead of 1-0.

Linfield (4-17, 2-13 NWC) was able to answer in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to take the lead, but the Lutes didn't let that last for long. On the top of the sixth inning, Andy Schmitz was walked and advanced to second and third on two wild pitches. Michael Cesar hit a sacrifice fly to left, driving in Schmitz to tie the game at 2-2.  After that, Dominick Zombik was walked and Tori Doten was hit by a pitch, giving Haworth men on base. Haworth hit a single to left, driving in Zombik. A single from Austin Gormley drove in Doten, taking the Lutes to a 3-2 lead by the end of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, the Lutes were able to tack on an additional run courtesy of a signature Jacob Bockelie home run to left.  Bockelie's consistency behind the bat has been a trend over his time at PLU, and this year is proving to be no exception.

To add on to their already staggering lead, the Lutes came into the top of the ninth inning with their bats swinging. Gormley doubled to left, and a walk to Carlson put two on the bases. Bockelie reached on a fielder's choice that got Gormley out at third, but a Schmitz single loaded the bases. Connor Lemma, who had a big hit on Saturday, came in to hit for the Lutes and smacked a single to left that drove in Bockelie. This was followed up by a single from Cesar to drive in Schmitz, and a double from Zombik that drove in Cesar and Lemma, putting the Lutes on top with a final score of 8-4.

"Curran did a great job coming in and giving us six quality innings, that was the highlight of the game for me," said Junior Dominick Zombik.  "That and some timely hitting in the ninth inning really helped lock down the win."

On the bump for the Lutes, Tommy Snyder pitched three innings and allowed two runs on four hits, while Andrew Curran finished out the game, pitching six innings and allowing two runs while getting three strikeouts. The Lute pitching staff was dialed in on the strike zone, only walking a single batter over the course of nine innings.

"Overall we had a great weekend," said Head Coach Nolan Soete.  "We came alive offensively today. Gormley, Haworth, and Bockelie all had a big day, while Lemma, Cesar and Zombik also had big hits. Andrew Curran did an excellent job in relief. It was an all around great team effort"

The Lutes are back at home on Saturday, hosting Whitworth University in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.