WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team split their doubleheader against Northwest Conference rival Whitman College on Saturday. The Lutes pitched a shutout in the opener, winning 3-0 before getting edged 8-7 in the nightcap.

The day started with a solo home run from  Jacob Bockelie in the top of the first inning, putting the Lutes ahead 1-0.

In the top of the 3rd inning, Jordan Haworth singled to center field and was driven to second on a sacrifice bunt from Austin Gormley. A groundout from Andy Schmitz moved Haworth to third, putting him in prime scoring position with a strong lineup coming up next. Bockelie was intentionally walked, and consecutive singles from both Michael Cesar and Cam Clem drove in both Haworth and Bockelie, putting the Lutes ahead 3-0, the score that would take them through to the end of the game.

On the mound for the Lutes (18-11, 10-7 NWC), Justin Armbruester improved his record to 4-1 with a marathon eight-inning show, striking out 10 batters and only allowing just two hits. Alex Gregory came in to close the game, striking out three while allowing no runs, helping maintain the shutout for PLU.

In Game two, the action began in the third inning for PLU. Singles from Tori Doten and Austin Gormley put two on for Andy Schmitz, who decided that a single team home run on the day was insufficient. Schmitz smashed a homer to left, driving in Doten and Gormley to put the Lutes ahead 3-0.

The Blues (14-15, 9-8 NWC) gained 3 runs in the 3rd and 1 in the 4th to take the lead, but in the 6th inning PLU struck back.  Bockelie started the inning with a single up the middle, and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Cesar.  Marques Carlson was walked, and two singles from Max Cummings and Tori Doten brought Bockelie and Carlson in to score, retaking the lead 5-4. 

Whitman struck back in the bottom of the 6th, taking a 5-6 lead.  In the top of the 7th, the Lutes tried to get back in the game.  A solo home run from Michael Cesar added on to the PLU score, tying the game up as they headed into the bottom of the 7th. 

Unfortunately, a sequence of hits in the bottom of the 7th gave the Blues the lead they would eventually take to the end of the game.  In the top of the 8th inning, singles from Carlson and Cummings, as well as a walk for Doten and another single from Gormley drove in a run for the Lutes, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Whitman lead.

From the bump, starter Justin Tucker struck out four batters over five innings. Coming in as relief, Andrew Curran went for three innings, striking out four.  The Lutes combined for just one walk between the pitching staff in game two.

"We had two close games today," said Head Coach Nolan Soete.  "Armbruester and Gregory did a great job in Game 1. We had a lot of quality at bats today. Bockelie, Doten and Cesar had some big hits. We will come out tomorrow and try to put all three phases together."

The Lutes and the Blues take to the field on Sunday, April 7 at 12 p.m. for the final game of the series in Walla Walla, Washington.