NEWBERG, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team had a tough start to the start of Northwest Conference play on Saturday.  Facing the NWC preseason favorite, George Fox University, the Lutes dropped the first game of the doubleheader 15-1 before falling 9-0 in the nightcap. 
 
George Fox 15, PLU 1
 
The Bruins scored five runs in both the third and sixth innings and George Fox starter starter Christopher Stone allowed just one run in seven innings pitched.  His counterpart, Justin Tucker, lasted just 2.2 innings and give up six runs.  Tucker yielded only five hits, but handed out five free passes.  
 
Cameron Clem was the lone bright spot for PLU offensively.  Clem had two hits in the opening game of the day, including a double down the right field line in the eighth inning to score Michael Cesar.  Cole Ford pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning for PLU as well. 
 
George Fox 9, PLU 0
 
George Fox carried its momentum over from their first victory into their second, scoring a run in the first four innings, including four in the second to lead 8-0 early on. 
 
Tommy Snyder struggled for the Lutes on the mound, allowing seven earned runs in 3.1 innings, but visiting bullpen was up to the task in the second game.  Janson Pederson got five outs and allowed just one run and Andrew Curran closed things out.  Curran allowed just one hit over the final three innings and struck out four batters. 
 
Landon Schirer allowed just one hit and struck out six to earn the win for the Bruins.  The George Fox pitching staff allowed just two hits over the first eight innings.  Connor Lemma, Kenton Robillard, Alex Boyd and Chase Lariza all had hits in Game 2. 
 
The Lutes will look to get back into the win column tomorrow morning when they close out the three-game series with George Fox at 11:00 a.m.