TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team held an early lead but a rocky fifth inning dampened the day for the hosts on Monday afternoon, falling 11-4 to Northwest Conference rival Pacific University to finish off the three-game series.

PLU (6-10, 3-6 NWC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Ethan Keintz belted a leadoff single up the middle before advancing into scoring position on a Rutger Youch sacrifice bunt. Aaron Barber did the heavy lifting to get Keintz home, belting an RBI single to center field for the game's opening run.

The visiting Boxers (5-10, 5-4 NWC) took the lead in the second inning, generating a pair of runs. The bottom of the second saw the Lutes answer with two runs of their own. A Rochne Beecham two-bagger to center field opened the frame before scoring on a Braeden Lundberg RBI single. Lundberg would advance to third on a Brayden Adcox double before scoring on a Lukas Delisle sacrifice fly to make it 3-2 PLU. 

The game remained 3-2 until the fifth inning where Pacific tallied seven runs, including six unearned in an inning that PLU committed four errors. The Boxers added two more in the sixth, enjoying an 11-3 edge.

Adcox led off the seventh with an outfield single and later scored on a Keintz single up the middle in what turned out to be the final run of the day.

PLU outhit the Boxers 11-10 on a wet Monday at PLU Field, including Beecham and Adcox both going three-for-four with a run scored. Keintz and Lundberg both finished with a pair of hits on a day the squad stranded nine runners on base.

PLU's pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts on the day. Alex Lopez absorbed the decision, tossing the first four innings and striking out four. Kamryn Swartz tossed a scoreless inning while Jonathan Cohen allowed just one hit over the three scoreless innings to finish off the game.

The Lutes are back on the diamond tomorrow with a non-league game against crosstown rival University of Puget Sound. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.