TACOMA, Wash.— The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team battled back and forth with Northwest Conference foe Lewis & Clark College River Otters splitting the doubleheader 8-3 victory in game one and a 7-6 loss in game two Saturday evening to begin NWC play.
The Lutes began the day looking to improve their 2-3 overall record and start their NWC slate with some noise after playing LC in two non-conference games the week prior.
"
Matthew Sherwood set the tone in game one," Head Coach
Nolan Soete commented. "He really did a great job competing and commanding the zone. Lundberg, Youch, and Tat led the way offensively."
"In game two their (LC) starter did a good job cooling down our offensive momentum. We battled back and took a lead late, but couldn't hang on. We look forward to compete for a series win tomorrow."
Game one opened up with power at the plate with
Rutger Youch unleashing a bomb to left center bringing in four runs to give the lute a 4-0 lead in the third inning. River Otters would answer back scoring two runs in the fourth inning.
Kyle Tat joined the home run party in the 7th blasting a solo shot to left center. Youch wasn't through as he ripped a double adding bringing in one more run to give the Lutes as 6-2 advantage.
Carson Burke continued the momentum adding another double for PLU bringing in Youch give PLU a five run lead. Youch closed the door for Lewis & Clark in the 8th bringing in another run 8-3 Lutes.
Youch would finish 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs, three hits, and six RBI. Tat also finished with three hits on 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs and one RBI.
Braeden Lundberg performance at the plate also kept PLU's offense humming going 3-for-3 with two runs.
Matthew Sherwood got the nod on the mound in game improving his record to (2-1) on the year in the win, pitching 7.2 innings only allowing five hits on two walks and nine strikeouts.
Lutes tried to carry their three-game win streak of momentum into game two of the doubleheader, but the River Otters would score late in the 7th evening and stall PLU's comeback. Tat kept his pop in his bat alive going to 2-for-3 with two hits and two RBI scoring in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2.
LC would answer immediately off the deep ball with a two-run shot giving them a 4-2 lead. Lundberg got the Lutes back in to the contest lacing a single up the middle bringing home Tat and
Kaleb McNeely to tie up the game at 4-4. Youch would capitalize off a missed pitch nailing a double to left field bringing in
Rochne Beecham to give PLU a 5-4 lead. Burke added to the offense grounding out to the shortstop sending a base runner home and ballooning the lead to 6-4.
The River Otters rallied back in the 7th picking up three runs on five hits to regain a 7-6 lead and take game two.
PLU will be back in action tomorrow, March 1st at 12 PM as the take on Lewis and Clark for game three of the series.
