TACOMA, Wash. — Alex Lopez went eight innings and threw 100 pitches, tilting the scales in favor of the host Pacific Lutheran University baseball team on Friday afternoon with the Lutes earning a 4-2 victory over Chapman University in a non-conference showdown at PLU Field.

"Lopez did a great job today and kept us in the game because we didn't hit their starter," said Head Coach Nolan Soete, who with the victory inches two wins shy of 200 as the Lute skipper.

"Our hitters did a good job of grinding out quality at-bats towards the end of the game and took advantage of some free passes. Overall it was a much needed win."

Lopez scattered six hits and issued just three walks while striking out three, pitching eight complete innings to secure the win. Kamryn Swartz shut the door on the Panthers (7-21) in the ninth, striking out two and allowing no hits to collect his second save over the last eight days.

The Lutes (10-15) took an early lead after plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Rochne Beecham and Aaron Barber worked the count and both got a free pass to first base before a Rutger Youch double cleared the bases to make it 2-0.

Chapman cut into the lead in the top of the second inning, pushing across a run on a sacrifice fly. 

The game remained 2-1 until the eighth inning with the Lutes scoring a pair of runs to pad their lead. A Chapman fielding error with the bases loaded allowed pinch runner Brayden Adcox to score before a Carson Burke groundout allowed Ethan Keintz to score, making it a 4-1 Lute lead.

Chapman pushed across another run in the ninth but it wasn't enough as Swartz retired the side to give PLU the 4-2 victory to kick off the three-game series.

PLU mustered just three hits on the day with Youch finishing the contest with three RBIs.

Game two of the series is set for tomorrow at noon.