SEATTLE – The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team didn't back down from its NCAA Division I counterparts this afternoon in Seattle.  The Lutes scored twice in the top of the ninth to force extra innings, but the Redhawks of Seattle U walked off with an 8-6 victory in 10 innings. 
 
"It was a good battle," said PLU skipper Nolan Soete.  "Our guys did a great job putting together strong at-bats all day and our pitchers were competitive.  "We made a few mistakes, but overall it was a good team effort and good experience for our team."
 
Trailing 6-4 in the ninth, the Lutes started off the inning with three straight singles by Tori Doten, Sean Kauffman and Austin Gormley to cut the Seattle U lead in half.  With nobody out in the inning, Jordan Haworth grounded into a 4-6-3 double play that allowed Sean Kauffman to scamper home and tie the score. 
 
After the Lutes went down in order in the 10^th, the home team ended the game with a leadoff double and a home run by shortstop Connor O'Brien.  Noah Ferguson (2-2) took the loss for PLU after allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched. 
 
Gormley got PLU (10-9) on the scoreboard in the third inning when he drove in Alex Boyd with an infield hit.  Later in the inning, Cole Trotignon hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Doten.  After Seattle U took a 3-2 lead, PLU tied the score in the fifth when Doten scored on a wild pitch and took the lead when Connor Lemma singled up the gut to score Gormley. 
 
Kauffman, Gormely and Doten all had two hits apiece to pace the Lute lineup, while Gormely drove in a pair of runs and Doten scored three times.  Justin Tucker was the PLU starter on the mound and did not receive a decision after striking out five batters in four innings pitched. 
 
The Lutes will remain on the road next weekend when they head north to take on University of Puget Sound on Saturday, April 10 for a Northwest Conference doubleheader.  First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.