TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team dropped a non-conference game against Whitman College on Saturday, falling 5-4 in an eight inning game hosted at the University of Puget Sound.

As the 2019 baseball season draws to a close, the Lutes were looking to get a few more wins under their belt.  Unfortunately, this game was not one of them.

The Lutes started out strong in the bottom of the 1st Inning, as singles from Tori Doten and Cam Clem put runners on base for NWC 1st Team honoree Jacob Bockelie, who hit a double to left center that drove in Doten. A flyout from Max Cummings drove in Clem, setting up the second run of the inning and of the game.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning the Lutes looked to add onto their lead, and they did just so. King Jimenez-Cruz was walked to start the inning, and he put his speed to good use by stealing second base. Jimenez-Cruz reached third on an error, and scored on a single from Doten, putting the Lutes ahead 3-0 coming out of the 2nd inning.

Whitman managed to get 4 runs back by the top of the 7th, taking the lead from the Lutes. In the bottom of the 7th, PLU struck back as Bockelie got on base via a fielder's choice. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single up the middle from Marques Carlson. With this run, the Lutes tied up the game, but it wasn't enough to claim the victory on the day, and the Blues gained a run in the 8th to take the game.

"Today was a well-fought game," said Senior Marques Carlson. "We were in it as a team all day."

"As both a leader and a senior on this team, I just want all of the guys to enjoy the few games we have left and make the most out of them. The biggest thing I've been preaching is to just have fun. Our team feels like a big family, and that's definitely what I'm going to miss the most."

From the mound, PLU Ace Justin Armbruester went 5.2 innings, garnering 5 strikeouts on 6 hits and 3 runs. In relief, Andrew Curran and Matt Franceschina combined for 2 innings for the Lutes, getting 4 strikeouts and allowing 2 runs between them.

"Tomorrow we're just looking to compete and play our best brand of baseball," said Carlson. "I believe all of us will leave everything we have on the field and have no regrets. I'm looking forward to laving it up one last time with my brothers."

The Lutes are back on the diamond tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. hosting Whitman before closing the season against Whitworth University at 12:30 p.m.