SPOKANE, Wash. --- The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team (12-18, 6-12 NWC) dropped the series finale against the Whitworth Pirates (22-11, 13-8 NWC) on Saturday afternoon, as a late push by the Lutes in the ninth was too-little, too-late, with the Lutes falling in the series finale, 13-10.
 
Rutger Youch's bat stayed hot from yesterday's double header, as he led-off the game with a solo shot to right-center field, putting the Lutes up 1-0 early. Chris Moreno earned the start on the mound for the Lutes, as he stranded one on base in the first inning.
 
The Pirates got to Moreno early in the home half of the third inning, scoring seven runs on four hits, with a pair of errors in the field; taking a 7-1 lead over the Lutes. Kamryn Swartz relieved the Lutes starter on the mound with one out in the third.
 
Brody Phinney joined the home run club in the top of the fourth, as he sent a two-out shot over the fence to make it a 7-2 game through four. Hayden Kaiser notched a homer of his own just two innings later, bringing home Aaron Barber to cut the deficit to three. After Swartz had settled in on the bump, the Pirates got to him in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs on four hits, ending his relief outing, as Logan Egge would enter the game for the pitcher. The Pirates led 11-4 after six.
 
Ethan Keintz opened the top of the eighth by reaching on an error, opening the door for Barber to go yard, cutting into the deficit, as the Lutes trailed 13-6 entering the final inning.
 
Down to their final out in the top of the ninth, the Lutes made one final comeback attempt. Carson Burke's single led to a pair of walks to load the bases. Phinney scored Burke with a single, followed by a Jaden Pieper pinch-hit single to plate two more, making it 13-10 with the tying run at the plate. The Pirates third pitching change of the inning slammed the door shut, earning the sweep over the Lutes, 13-10.
 
Barber and Youch led the way at the plate, with Youch going 3-5 with one RBI thanks to hit lead-off homer. Barber went 3-4, scoring three runs and driving in a pair thanks to hit two extra-base hits; a double and a home run. The Lutes had five total extra-base hits, included four home runs, from Youch, Barber, Phinney, and Kaiser. Moreno was credited with the loss after his 2.1-innings pitched, with Swartz going three, and Egge closing the game with 2.2-innings pitched. Only six of the 13 runs that Whitworth scored were earned by Lutes pitchers, due to four errors in the field.
 
Baseball will play host to the Division II Saint Martin's Saints on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., before hosting the Whitman Blues for a four-game series next weekend.
 
To follow Lutes coverage all season long, please follow us on social media; PLU Athletics on Facebook, @GoLutes on X.com and Instagram.