PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran Baseball team earned a split in the first two games of a three-day series taking place this weekend at Lewis & Clark behind a strong outing on the mound by Matthew Sherwood in game two.
 
Jonathan Cohen earned the starting nod in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing a leadoff single to begin the game. An ensuing double led to two runners in scoring position for the Pioneers in the home half of the first. The next batter would send a high flying drive over the right field fence to put Lewis & Clark on top 3-0 early. Cohen got out of the troubled inning with a line out and a strike out.
 
Brody Phinney, who ripped a grand slam against the Loggers early in the week, earned the first hit for the Lutes as he led off the second with a double down the left field line. Phinney would be stranded in scoring position as a flyout, groundout, and strikeout would keep the Lutes at zero.
 
Cohen's day would come to a quick close after opening the bottom of the third allowing a double to deep right center. Chris Moreno came in to relieve the starter, getting out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts. The Lutes broke the ice, as Aaron Barber's double would be followed by a Brody Phinney home run to left field, cutting the deficit to just one. Moreno remained steady on the mound in relief, which allowed the Lutes to take their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth. Brayden Adcox would drive in one on a double to tie the game at 3-3, but would be thrown out at third trying to stretch his hit to a triple. Ashton Barton put PLU on top, 4-3, with a solo shot over the left field fence.
 
The Pioneers knotted the game up at 4-4 in the home half of the fifth, thanks to a double and two singles. The game would remain tied until the home half of the seventh, as a two-out single to left-center scored two. Anthony Adams came in for Moreno to open the bottom of the eighth, but the Pioneers knocked the senior around the park, scoring four runs without allowing an out. Trailing 10-4, Logan Egge shut down Lewis & Clark but it the damage had already been done.
 
The Pios took game one, 10-4 as they had 16 hits to the Lutes eight. Phinney was the bright spot in the lineup, going 3-4 in the opening game, with two runs batted in and one run scored. Moreno was credited with the loss after throwing five and one-third innings, earning four runs on six hits while striking out seven.
 
Kamryn Swartz got the nod in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, getting out of a bases loaded jam after striking out the final batter of the opening frame. But it was the Lutes who struck first in the afternoon game, as Rutger Youch led off the game with a single past the second baseman. Youch would advance to second on a passed ball and later third on a fielder's choice. Barton drove Youch in with a deep fly ball to right field, putting the Lutes up 1-0.
 
A hit-by-pitch and two walks loaded the bases for the Pios yet again in the second inning, this time they would take advantage, scoring two on a double down the left field line; taking a 2-1 lead. The Lutes prevented another run from scoring on a ground ball to third base, throwing the runner out at home.
 
The Lutes found themselves with free bases in the third, earning a walk and hit by pitch. Youch's sacrifice bunt and Barber's sacrifice fly would bring in Brayden Adcox, tying the game at 2-2. Following an intentional walk of Barton, Hayden Kaiser made the Pioneers pay with a double to right center, scoring two. Phinney would bring another Lutes run home after a crucial error by the third baseman, putting the Lutes up 5-2. Swartz would allow a double and ensuing home run to open the home half of the inning, and cutting the Pioneers deficit to 5-4. This ended Swartz start on the mound as he went two innings, allowing four runs on four hits, while giving up four walks and punching out one. Sherwood would come in relief, and give up a double to the first hitter he faced before allowing a two-out single to tie the game up at 5-5.
 
PLU answered back with their bats in the fourth, loading the bases on two consecutive hit-by-pitches. A Barber single and Barton fielder's choice scored two for the Lutes, putting them back on top 7-5.
 
Lewis & Clark began the climb back, scoring one in the bottom of the seventh after a two-out double with a ensuing single to cut the Lutes lead to 7-6. The Lutes piled on insurance runs in the top of the ninth, putting the game out of reach after Phinney's one-out double was matched by Burke. With a new pitcher coming in the game, Pieper would also double to left center, putting the Lutes up 9-6.
 
Sherwood shut the door in the ninth, going seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out three. The Lutes ripped seven hits in game two, with Pieper and Youch leading the way with two each. Barber, Barton, and Kaiser each drove in two runs in the process.
 
"Game one was rough. We didn't play well in any phase of the game." Said Head Coach Nolan Soete.
 
"Our team responded well in game two. Matt Sherwood did a heck of job in long relief. We had some good at-bats up and down the lineup. Phinney had a big day, Delisle got on base 4 times in game two and we had clutch hits by Pieper and Burke. We will need to play well tomorrow to win a series."
 
Baseball looks to bounce back and grab one game from the Pioneers tomorrow in Portland with a single game starting at 12 p.m.
 
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