TACOMA, Wash. — A big inning in each game sabotaged the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team on Saturday afternoon against Northwest Conference rival Linfield University. The Lutes battled back to force extra innings in the opener before surrendering five runs in the 10th while a four-run seventh proved the Achilles' heel in game two as the Wildcats came away with 12-7 and 6-1 wins at PLU Field. 

Aaron Barber got the Lutes (11-20, 6-11 NWC) going in the first inning, belting a single up the middle before utilizing savvy base running and ultimately scoring on a wild pitch. The visiting Wildcats (14-15, 8-8 NWC) answered scoring a pair of runs with two outs in the top of the second and tacked on five more runs with two outs in the fourth to seize a 7-1 advantage. 

A Hayden Kaiser double plated two for the Lutes in the bottom of the fourth. Kaiser moved to third on a Jaden Pieper sacrifice bunt before scoring on a wild pitch to close the gap to 7-4. PLU inched closer in the bottom of the seventh with an Ashton Barton single up the middle scoring Jaden Pieper to make it a two-run game. 

PLU tied the game in the eighth, getting an RBI single from Pieper before a Rutger Youch sacrifice fly brought in Carson Burke to knot the score at 7-7. The Lutes threatened with two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth but weren't able to push across a run. In extras, Linfield cranked out five runs to secure the 12-7 victory.

Barber and Barton both finished with two hits and a walk while Pieper was two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored. 

Jonathan Cohen earned the start and struck out three while Wyatt Norris and Kamryn Swartz combined to throw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Matthew Sherwood was tagged with decision, pitching parts of both the ninth and 10th innings.

The Wildcats struck first in the nightcap. pushing across runs in the first and fourth innings before exploding for four runs in the top of the seventh. 

Barber led off the eighth inning with a base hit and scored on a Barton double to make it 6-1 but it would be the Lutes' only run of game two as Linfield came away with the doubleheader sweep.

Six Lutes finished with a base hit, including Youch and Barber finishing two-for-four. 

Chris Moreno absorbed the decision on the hill, tossing 6 1/3 innings and striking out five. Anthony Adams allowed just three hits and no runs over the final 2 2/3 innings, striking out three.

"It was a tough day. I thought the offense did a good job fighting to give us a chance in game one. We gave up a lot of two out runs to fall behind early in the game and we've really struggled with that all year. We battled back and tied the game late and we had a great opportunity in the 9th inning to win it, we just couldn't get the big hit. Linfield played better in every phase game two. I thought Moreno pitched well first six innings, we just didn't provide him any run support," said Head Coach Nolan Soete. 
 
The Lutes and Wildcats finish off the series tomorrow with first pitch at PLU Field set for noon.