Box Score WHITTIER, Calif. – The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team scored four times in the eighth inning on Friday, but the rally wasn't enough in a 9-5 defeat to Whittier College.
 
The home team jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings after Whittier scored once in the first and twice in the second. PLU lit the scoreboard in the fourth when Rochne Beecham singled in Ashton Barton with one out.
 
The Poets tacked on four more runs in the seventh off of the PLU bullpen to take a commanding 7-1 lead into the final two innings. The Lutes showed some fight with four runs in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-5, but Whittier answered with two more tallies in the home half.
 
In the eighth, Cole Trotignon hit a solo home run and Andy Schmitz added a two-run single to drive in Brody Phinney and Beecham. After the Lutes' fourth walk of the inning, Ethan Keintz's infield single scored Alex Boyd, and PLU had the bases loaded with just one out in the inning. However, Barton grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
 
Spencer Howell (4-2) was saddled with the loss after settling in after the first two innings. He tossed six and struck out four. The Lute bullpen surrendered the final five runs over the last six outs.
 
The Lutes (9-14, 4-9 NWC) will look to win both ends of a doubleheader tomorrow to take the series from the Poets. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.