MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team dropped the series finale to the Willamette Bearcats on Sunday at the Linfield baseball field, 11-0.
 
After the Lutes went down in order to begin the game, Jon Crawley stepped on the mound as the starter for Nolan Soete's team in the final game of the weekend. Crawley struck out the first batter he faced, but then gave up an RBI groundout and two0run home run. A two-out RBI double ended the starter's day, with the Bearcats taking an early 4-0 lead. Chris Moreno replaced Crawley on the bump in the opening frame.
 
Brody Phinney notched the Lutes first hit of the game to start the second inning, followed by a Rochne Beecham walk. But Carson Burke's hard line drive was snagged by the Bearcats shortstop in a diving effort, throwing to second, and finally first to complete the rare triple play.
 
Willamette added a pair of runs after a leadoff single was followed by a home run to left field, giving the Bearcats a 6-0 lead through three. Moreno was relieved by Kamryn Swartz with one out in the fourth, after an error led to another run for Willamette. They led 9-0 after four thanks to a two-run single with one out.
 
The top half of the sixth saw Rutger Youch and Aaron Barber load the bases with one out, but Phinney's ground ball led to a double play in favor of the Bearcats. Willamette added two more to shorten the game to just seven innings with a walk-off two-run home run to give Willamette an 11-0 win as well as the weekend series.
 
Phinney accounted for two of the Lutes five total hits, as the first baseman went 2-3 at the plate. PLU struck out just three times, while stranding six runners on base. Crawley was credited with the loss in just two-thirds an inning of work, allowing four runs on three hits, adding one strikeout and a walk. Moreno had the longest outing, going just short of three innings.
 
"Tough game today. We gave a four-spot in the first inning and failed to minimize the damage throughout the game. Willamette played better than us in all three phases today. We will look to get better this coming week." Said Head Coach Nolan Soete on Sunday afternoon.
 
Baseball will play host to the Linfield Wildcats next weekend in Luteville, set for a three-game series beginning on Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m.
 
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