WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Playing a doubleheader with Whitman College, the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team won the more important game of the day as the Lutes won the opener 9-6, which counted in the Northwest Conference standings.  PLU dropped the nightcap 6-5 in seven innings in a nonconference affair. 
 
Game 1
Things didn't get off to a great start as PLU starter Cole Trotignon allowed two runs in the opening inning, but the Lutes rallied to score the next nine runs en route to the victory. 
 
Lukas Delisle lit the scoreboard with a solo shot in the second and the Lutes finally took the lead in the fifth on a two-run homer by Jordan Haworth.  The heart of the Lute order keyed a four-run sixth as Trotignon and Ashton Barton had RBI singles and Haworth connected on a two-run double.  John Graham had a run-scoring triple in the seventh and Ethan Keintz drove him in with a double and the rout was on. 
 
Noah Ferguson (4-1) picked up the win in relief after tossing 4 1/3 innings of relief and striking out six.  Jonathan Cohen recorded a pair of outs before handing things to Jack Robinette who tossed a scoreless ninth. 
 
The Lutes produced 17 hits and nine walks in the opening nine innings and were led by Haworth, Keintz and Delisle who all had three hits each.  Andy Schmitz, Trotignon and Graham also had a pair of hits.   
 
Game 2
PLU held a 5-3 advantage heading into the game's final inning, but the Blues rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with the win. 
 
Robinette was charged with the loss after coming in and allowing a two-run home run to end the game to the only batter he faced. 
 
PLU scored solo runs in the middle five innings.  Delisle had a RBI double in the second and Trotignon homered in the third.  The Lutes used errors in the fourth and fifth two score a pair and Andy Schmitz scored Delisle on an infield single in the sixth. 
 
Trevor Mason started on the bump for the Lutes, but gave up three runs after recording five outs.  Matt Franceschina got a pair of outs before passing the ball to Jonathan Cohen, who tossed four innings and allowed just one earned run and struck out five. 
 
PLU (19-12, 12-9 NWC) remained in third place in the NWC standings and is just a game behind Pacific University and Linfield University for the top spot.  The Lutes host the Wildcats for a massive three-game series that could determine the league champion.  Action begins with a 2:00 p.m. game on Friday, followed by a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.