NEWBURG, Ore. – The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team battled preseason Northwest Conference favorite George Fox University to the end, but the Bruins scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with the victory. 
 
The Lutes jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  Andy Schmitz reached on an error with one out and Jordan Haworth ripped a double to bring him home and give the visitors a short-lived lead.  George Fox responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. 
 
PLU cut the lead in half in the following inning as Kenton Robillard hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Chase Lariza.  Trailing 4-2 in the sixth inning, the Lutes clawed even with the Bruins.  Tommy Snyder walked to start the rally and Dominick Zombik followed with a double to score Sean Kauffman, who pinch ran for Snyder.  Robillard bunted Zombik to third and Cameron Clem brought him in with a groundout to second base that tied the score. 
 
The Bruins were held off the scoreboard from the third inning until the bottom of the ninth by tremendous work by the PLU bullpen.  Jacob Mortensen struck out four in his three innings pitched and allowed just one hit.  Alex Gregory was effective early in his outing, but allowed three straight singles to start the ninth inning and George Fox was able to walk off with the victory. 
 
Haworth and Tori Doten both had two hits to lead the PLU offense, who registered seven hits in Sunday's season finale.
 
The Lutes (2-4, 0-3 NWC) will be back in action on Thursday when they travel to Texas Lutheran University for a the first of four games.  First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.