TACOMA, Wash. — Rutger Youch had four hits and three stolen bases but it wasn't enough on Saturday at PLU Field as the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team dropped both ends of a Northwest Conference doubleheader to Pacific University. The Boxers took the opener 8-2 before squeaking out the 4-3 victory in the nightcap.
 
The visiting Boxers (4-10, 4-4 NWC) drew first blood in the opening game of the day, plating two runs on a single down the left field line. The Lutes (6-9, 3-5 NWC) cut into the lead in the bottom of the third. Youch belted a one-out double before stealing third and eventually scoring thanks to a Ethan Keintz sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
 
Pacific piled on five runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Boxers had just two hits in the frame but benefited from three hit batters and two walks to engineer a six-run buffer. Pacific added one more in the seventh to make it 8-1. Brody Phinney scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the eighth but it was the only other run the Lutes' could muster in the 8-2 setback.
 
Youch finished two-for-four with a run scored while Barber collected a pair of hits.
 
Chris Moreno was saddled with the decision. Tuesday's winner over University of Washington, the righthander tossed 4 1/3 innings and struck out one. Cade Hamel and Stevan Rodriquez both tossed an inning of scoreless relief. Pacific's starter Governor Aufranc went seven innings and struck out seven.

Game two saw the Boxers push across a run in the top of the first. PLU had the bases loaded in both the first and second inning but mustered just a single run from those baserunners. The Lutes had bases loaded in the first before a double play ended the frame early. Youch drew a bases loaded walk to score Rochne Beecham in the second but a strikeout the next batter left three men stranded in a 1-1 deadlock. 
 
Pacific scored twice in the third but the Lutes' answered with two of their own in the bottom of the inning. A Carson Burke double scored Brody Phinney before a Jaden Pieper sacrifice bunt allowed Burke to score to tie the game.
 
The Boxers scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, getting under a tag on a play at home for what turned out to be the final run of the day.

Six Lutes registered a hit in game two with Youch going two-for-three with three walks and two stolen bases.

Matthew Sherwood tossed the opening 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and striking out one. Logan Egge was hit with the decision, logging the final 4 1/3 innings and striking out four. 

"It was a rough day today," said Head Coach Nolan Soete.

"We have to put all three phases of the game together at the same time to win tomorrow."
 
The Lutes and Boxers finish off the series tomorrow with a single game starting at 12 p.m.