PORTLAND, Ore. — Carson Burke blasted a go-ahead three run blast in the fifth inning but it wasn't enough for the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team to escape with the series win with host Lewis & Clark College cranking out seven runs in the seventh inning to steal the 11-7 victory at Jerry Gatto Field. 
 
"It was a tough one today. We had a lead late and couldn't close it out which was similar to game two yesterday," said Head Coach Nolan Soete.
 
"We need to keep working over these next two weekends and figure out how to finish better late in games."
 
The River Otters' (4-5, 2-1 NWC) come from behind win, gave the hosts the series win. PLU (3-5, 1-2 NWC) won the opener 8-3 on Saturday before dropping a 7-6 nailbiter in the second game of the day, setting up Sunday's game to decide the first Northwest Conference series of the spring. 
 
Host Lewis & Clark struck first, plating two runs in the first and driving in another in the bottom of the second to stake a 3-0 lead.
 
A Braden Lundberg sacrifice fly scored Ethan Keintz in the third inning. Keintz led off the inning by getting hit by pitch before advancing to third on a Hayden Kaiser double. 
 
The River Otters added a run in the bottom of the third only to see PLU add a run in the fourth and three In the fifth to seize the lead. A Kaiser double, his second of the game, scored Keintz in the fourth before a Burke home run, his second of the season, plated Rutger Youch and Lundberg to make it 5-4 the following inning.
 
PLU's lead stretched to 6-4 thanks to a Kyle Tat sacrifice fly in the seven, scoring Youch.
 
The River Otters cranked out six hits and drew two walks, generating seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to reclaim the lead. PLU attempted a late rally in ninth with Burke belting a leadoff double. Burke would later score to make it 11-7 on a Asa Reese RBI groundout but it proved to be the final run of the day as a infield pop-up secured the win for the hosts.
 
PLU pumped out 13 hits, coming from eight different players. Burke was two-for-dour with three RBIs and two runs scored while Rochne Beecham, Youch, Keintz, and Kaiser all finished with a pair of base knocks. 
 
The Lutes threw the kitchen sink at the River Otters, tossing six pitchers in the series final. Chris Moreno saw the most action, tossing 4 2/3 innings of middle relief. Cole Miller was saddled with the decision, facing four batters in the seventh inning.  
 
The Lutes take next weekend off before hosting George Fox University on March 14 in the home opener. First pitch of the twinbill is set for 11 a.m. at PLU Field.