THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- A big inning in each game sabotaged the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team on Saturday afternoon, dropping both ends of a doubleheader against host California Lutheran University. The Lutes rally fell short 9-6 in the opener before the Kingsmen pulled away for the 13-3 win in the nightcap at Ullman Stadium.

Kyle Tat was dialed in during the opener but it wasn't enough for the Lutes (0-3) to rally to the win. The rightfielder finished the game two-for-two at the plate with four RBIs, also scoring a run and drawing a walk.

The visiting Lutes yielded five runs in the bottom of the first but quickly got back into the game, plating three in the top of the second off a Tat home run, scoring Asa Reese and Brody Phinney.

The Kingsmen (5-1) added four in the third inning, building a 9-3 advantage. The Lutes chipped away at the late in the later innings, getting an RBI single from Tat in the sixth and a solo home run from Rochne Beecham in the seventh. An Ethan Keintz sacrifice fly later in the seventh scored Braeden Lundberg to close the gap to three but was unable to muster any more offense in the 9-6 setback.

Five different Lutes had a hit in the game with Tat headlining that group.

Alex Lopez made the start and absorbed the decision, striking out two in two innings of work. Logan Egge notched four strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings while Osei Kimura tossed 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out five and allowed just one hit.

A seven run onslaught in the sixth inning derailed the Lutes in game two.

A wild pitch in the first inning scored Rutger Youch who got on base on a two-out error. Cal Lu responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame but a Kaleb McNeely sacrifice fly scored Carson Burke, tying the game at 2 in the second inning.

Cal Lu earned separation over the next two frames, scoring two in the third and two in the fourth. An Asa Reese double scored Chase Pringle in the fifth making it 6-3 but the hosts poured on seven in the sixth inning for the 13-3 win.

Burke led the Lutes at the plate, going two-for-three.

Chris Moreno was tagged with the decision on the mound, tossing 3 2/3 innings and striking out one with Cole Miller and Connor Tutino finishing out the game.
The Lutes head to Portland next Saturday for a non-conference twinbill against Lewis & Clark College.