TACOMA, Wash.— The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team battled back and forth with the Lewis & Clark College River Otters, splitting the doubleheader with a 8-3 victory in game one and a 7-6 setback in game two Saturday evening to begin Northwest Conference play.

The Lutes began the day looking to improve their 2-3 overall record and start the NWC slate with some noise after beating L&C 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 (L&C) 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 field, bringing in four runs to give the Lutes a 4-0 lead in the third inning. The River Otters would answer, scoring two runs in the fourth inning.

Kyle Tat joined the home run party in the seventh, blasting a solo shot to left center. Youch wasn't through as he ripped a double to bring in one more run to give the Lutes a 6-2 advantage. Carson Burke continued the momentum hitting a double to score Youch and give PLU a five-run lead. Youch closed the door for Lewis & Clark in the eighth, bringing in another run to make it 8-3 Lutes.

Youch finished three-for-four at the plate with two runs and six RBI. Tat also finished with three hits in four at-bats with three runs and one RBI. Braeden Lundberg also had a big performance at the plate, going three-for-three with two runs.

Matthew Sherwood got the nod on the mound in game one, improving his record to (2-1) on the year in the win, pitching 7 2/3 innings and only allowing five hits and two walks while registering nine strikeouts.

The Lutes tried to extend its win streak to four in game two of the doubleheader, but a late River Otter rally stalled the streak at three. Tat kept the pop in his bat alive in game two, going to two-for-three with two RBI, including scoring in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2.

L&C immediately answered off the deep ball, with a two-run shot giving them a 4-2 lead. Lundberg got the Lutes back in the contest, lacing a single up the middle to bring home Tat and Kaleb McNeely to tie up the game at 4-4. Youch nailed a double to left field, bringing in Rochne Beecham to give PLU a 5-4 lead. Burke added to the offense production with an RBI groundout ballooning the lead to 6-4.

The River Otters rallied back in the seventh 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.