SALEM, Ore. – After dropping the first game of a four-game series to Willamette University yesterday, the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team rallied to win two of the next three games to earn the road series split. 
 
"Our guys responded well today," said PLU Head Coach Nolan Soete.  "Game 2 was a slugfest.  Our offense did a great job putting up a crooked number late in the game and Gregory was sharp closing the game out. We had our opportunities in Game 3, but Willamette had some timely hits and their starting pitcher did a great job.  We bounced back in Game 4 with some big pitching performances by Cohen, Gregory and Ferguson.  Ferguson turned in a gritty effort and we had a huge fifth inning with clutch hits by Gormley, Haworth and Trotignon.  Overall, it was a great team effort against a quality team. 
 
Game 2
The first 5 ½ innings of Game 2 were played yesterday and action today resumed in the bottom of the sixth.  Alex Gregory earned the win in the seven-inning affair in which the Lutes emerged victorious 15-10.  Gregory got the final out in the fifth inning yesterday and allowed just a two-out single in the sixth today before closing out the game with a perfect seventh.
 
The Lutes were held scoreless in their only at-bats today, but the PLU offense was red-hot yesterday. 
 
After a 16-2 defeat to start the series, things began to look up for the Lutes to begin Game 2.  PLU scored three times in the first and the first four runs in the game in the first three at-bats.  Jordan Haworth blasted two home runs over the left field fence for five RBI. 
 
Cole Trotignon struggled on the mound, surrendering six runs in four innings pitched, but he made up for it at the plate.  The sophomore helped himself with a RBI single in the first, knocked in Tori Doten in the fourth and doubled in Austin Gormley in the sixth on a ball to right.  In all, he was 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. 
 
Alex Boyd was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored in Game 2, while Gormely also touched home three times.  Sean Kauffman also provided some power with a two-run blast in the sixth inning. 
 
Game 3
Trailing 3-0 in the fifth inning, the Lute offense rallied to tie the score on the bats of Kauffman and Doten.  With the bases loaded and one out, Kauffman got PLU on the scoreboard with a groundout to the second baseman.  Doten followed with a double down the left field line to tie the score. 
 
Willamette reclaimed the lead with a solo tally in the bottom half, but the PLU offense came up empty despite having the tying run in scoring position in the sixth and seventh.
 
Tommy Snyder (2-2) took the loss for PLU after allowing all four runs in four innings pitched.  Noah Ferguson came in and tossed two scoreless innings of relief. 
 
Offensively, the Lutes couldn't get much going with five hits and only two of the extra-base variety.  Armond Swanson III and Kauffman both had doubles in Sunday's opening full game. 
 
Game 4
In the second game of the day, it was the fifth inning in which the Lutes did all their damage.  Trailing 1-0, Jordan Haworth ripped a single to right field that, combined with an error by the Bearcat defense, allowed Gormley, Doten and Connor Lemma to trot home.  Trotignon kept the rally going in the very next plate appearance as he drilled a double to right center to score Haworth. 
 
After chucking two scoreless innings of relief in the opening full game, Ferguson (2-1) was not done and earned the win in the final game of the series.  He struck out three in 3.2 innings pitched and scattered four hits while allowing two runs. 
 
Trotignon and Gormley each had a pair of hit for the Lutes to lead the offensive attack in the series finale, while Haworth added two RBI and a run scored. 
 
PLU (8-7, 4-4 NWC) will George Fox University next weekend in Tacoma for four games.  The Lutes and Bruins will play doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday with first pitch slated for noon on both days.