TACOMA, Wash. — Pitchers Jonathan Cohen and Anthony Adams logged a pair of clutch long relief performances out of the bullpen on Saturday as the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team picked up a doubleheader sweep of Northwest Conference rival Willamette University at PLU Field.
 
The Lutes outslugged the Bearcats 7-2 in the opener before squeezing out a 1-0 victory in the nightcap on a wet and soggy day.
 
"It was a big day for us," said Head Coach Nolan Soete.
 
"Obviously we had a rough start to the season and our guys have been putting in long hours to get better. I thought we started to see some growth in all phases today against a good team and we had huge long relief performances from Cohen and Adams."

Lute Sports Network's Simon Luedtke catches up with @PLUbaseball pitchers Anthony Adams, Jonathan Cohen, and Chris Moreno after a big day on the bump in a DH sweep of Willamette #GoLutes pic.twitter.com/SpS2WUnfRu

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) March 10, 2024

 
The Lutes (3-8, 2-2 NWC) struck early in game one, seizing a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Rochne Beecham led off the inning with a bunt single before Rutger Youch reached base the next at bat on a bunt single and advanced into scoring position on a throwing error. Another error allowed Beecham to score before an Ashton Barton sacrifice fly scored Youch to make it 2-0.
 
Willamette (8-2, 3-2 NWC) tied the game in the third inning on a one out double before reliever Jonathan Cohen entered the game and induced a groundout to end the inning. Cohen would be lights out the rest of the game, tossing the final 6 2/3 innings and allowing just two hits while striking out four.
 
A Brody Phinney double to right center field scored Barton in the bottom of the third to give PLU the lead again. Aaron Barber scored in the fifth before driving in a run in the seventh on a double to left field. Brayden Adcox further padded the lead in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run home run to make it 7-2.

Going… Going… GONE??

Brayden Adcox sends one over the right field fence to extend the Lutes lead to 7-2 over Willamette!#GoLutes @PLUBaseball pic.twitter.com/t2T7U2Lsyl

— PLU Athletics (@golutes) March 9, 2024

 
PLU cranked out 10 hits in game one with Barber and Barton both finishing with a pair of hits while Youch scored a pair of runs.
 
Kamryn Swartz made the start and struck out three and allowed just one earned run in 2 1/3 innings of work. Cohen handled the rest of the game, earning the win.
 
Game two was a pitchers' duel with an Ashton Barton home run in the second inning the decisive moment in a 1-0 Lute win to secure the sweep.
 
Chris Moreno tossed the opening 5 1/3 innings, striking out 11 and allowing just two hits to earn the win. Anthony Adams mopped up the rest, tossing the final 3 2/3 innings and allowing just one hit to earn the save. Both pitchers navigated tough innings, with the Bearcats loaded the bases in both the fifth and sixth innings but coming up empty handed both times.
 
PLU outhit Willamette 7-3 in game two with Adcox and Barton both finishing with a pair of hits.
 
"Ultimately we have a lot of room to improve, but it was a great effort today."
 
The Lutes finish off the series with Willamette tomorrow with a single game beginning at 12 p.m.