Feb. 15, 2007

Missed Opportunities Costly as Lutes Fall to Redlands, 7-2

Linescore

Tyler Green - two hits, two RBI

Jordan Post - two hits

ANTHEM, Ariz. – Pacific Lutheran wasted a couple of good scoring opportunities and Redlands made the most of sloppy PLU defense to garner a 7-2 victory over the Lutes on Thursday morning at the Arizona Desert Classic.

The loss was the Lutes’ first of the season in four games, while Redlands was playing its season opener.

Pacific Lutheran left nine runners on the base, five in scoring position, during the game. The Lutes had a chance to get to Redlands early but left a couple of runners in scoring position in the second inning. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.

PLU rallied for a run in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Tyler Green, but managed to score only one run during its best opportunity of the game in the bottom of the eighth. Trailing 3-1, the Lutes loaded the bases with no outs but hit into a double play. Green later drew a bases loaded walk to close the margin to 3-2, but Redlands broke the game open in the top of the ninth inning with four runs, all of them unearned following a trio of Lute errors.

The Lutes managed just eight hits, including a double and a single by both Jordan Post and Green, but committed four errors in the game. Meanwhile, Redlands touched PLU starter Joe DiPietro for three runs and 10 hits in the first six innings. The Bulldogs finished the game with 13 hits against three PLU pitchers, and they committed no errors.

PLU returns to action in the Arizona Desert Classic when it faces Cal Lutheran at 2 p.m. on Friday. The Lutes will play Whittier on Saturday and La Verne on Sunday to close out their tournament appearance.

-PLU-