ORANGE, Calif. — The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader to Chapman University, falling 9-6 in game one and 9-3 in game two Friday afternoon.

PLU fell to 9-14 overall and 7-8 in Northwest Conference play, sitting in fifth place in the NWC standings. Chapman improved to 16-13 overall. Pacific Lutheran still holds a 6-5 edge in the all-time series.

Alex Lopez got the start in game one, pitching 5 2/3 innings while allowing five walks and striking out two. Chapman opened the scoring in the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead.

Braeden Lundberg answered in the fifth, launching a grand slam — his second home run of the season — to give PLU a 4-1 advantage. The Panthers responded with four runs over the next three innings to take a 5-4 lead heading into the eighth.

Carson Burke reached on an error to open the eighth, allowing Rutger Youch to score and tie the game at 5-5. Chapman answered in the bottom half, plating four runs on three hits to regain control at 9-5.

PLU added one run in the ninth on an RBI single from Rochne Beecham, but the comeback fell short.

Chapman carried its momentum into game two, scoring five runs over the first two innings to build a 5-0 lead.

The Lutes got on the board in the third when Youch singled to left to drive in Dallas Phipps. Burke later added a sacrifice fly to left-center, scoring Kyle Tat and trimming the deficit to 5-2.

The Panthers extended their lead with four runs over the next three innings. Cole Fenton provided PLU's final run, hitting a pinch-hit solo home run to right field in the seventh — his first collegiate homer.

Pacific Lutheran returns to action Saturday, April 11, for games three and four against Chapman.