AUSTIN, Texas — Ashton Barton cranked out a pair of hits and drove in two runs but the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team couldn't keep pace with host Concordia University, allowing four late runs in an 8-4 setback to open the Lutes' four-game weekend at Gardner-Boggs Field. 
 
Alex Boyd started the game off with a bang, blasting a triple to right center field. A Cole Trotignon sacrifice fly three batters later scored Boyd for the early 1-0 Lute lead. 
 
The host Tornados (1-0) manufactured a run in the bottom of the first to tie the game before taking the lead on a three-run home run in the third inning.
 
Pacific Lutheran (2-2) battled back to tie the game in the sixth, scoring a trio of runs. Trotignon got the inning started with a leadoff double before Ethan Keintz was hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. A Barton double down the line scored Trotignon and Keintz before a Lukas Delisle base hit plated Barton to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Concordia responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and tacked on two more in the eighth. PLU was three-up, three-down in the ninth as the Tornados held on for the 8-4 victory. 
 
Barton finished two-for-four with two RBIs and one run scored. PLU had four extra base hits on the day but stranded eight runners on base over the course of the game.
 
Spencer Howell got the start and tossed the opening six innings, striking out four. Trevor Mason threw the final two frames, allowing three hits and no walks. 
 
"We got beat in every phase today. We were sloppy on the mound and in the field and not very competitive at the plate," said Head Coach Nolan Soete.
 
"We made a lot of mistakes and you can't expect to win when that happens."
 
The Lutes are back on the diamond tomorrow at 9 a.m. (Central) against Hardin-Simmons University before facing Texas Lutheran University at 12:30 p.m. (Central). 
 
"We look forward to another opportunity to compete at a higher level tomorrow."