PORTLAND, Ore. – Lewis & Clark College baseball split Saturday's Northwest Conference doubleheader with Pacific University at Jerry Gatto Field, winning the opener 6-2 before falling 7-3 in the rubber match.  
 
THE BASICS
 
Lewis & Clark 6, Pacific 2
Pacific 7, Lewis & Clark 3
(Lewis & Clark 17-15, 9-9 NWC)
(Pacific 13-14, 13-8 NWC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

The Pioneers had contributions up and down the lineup, with seven players recording at least one run or RBI. Junior Brandon Gonzaga paced the offense, going 5-for-9 with three runs, an RBI and a stolen base across both games. Sophomore Bret Potter added three RBI, including his first collegiate home run, and also tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in Game 2.

On the mound, sophomore starters Caden Hodina and Owen Eisen each went at least five innings and combined for 12 strikeouts. Hodina allowed one run and struck out four in five innings to open the day, while Eisen fanned eight in 5 2/3 innings in the second game.

GAME ONE RECAP

Lewis & Clark got on the board early, scoring twice in the second inning. Senior Will Heron doubled to right center and came home on an RBI single by classmate Brennen Davis. Sophomore Eli Steinhaus followed with a second RBI single, giving the Pios a 2-0 lead.

Pacific chipped away with a run in the third and tied the game in the seventh against sophomore reliever Shane Buchbinder. But the Pioneers responded in the bottom half. Gonzaga singled, advanced on junior Joaquin Sandoval's bunt, and scored on an error to take back the lead.

In the eighth, Lewis & Clark padded their advantage. Davis walked and came around on Potter's RBI single. Gonzaga added another run with a base hit up the middle, and Sandoval capped the rally with an RBI knock to left center.

Junior Nate Kerr sealed the win, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out one.

GAME TWO RECAP

The Pioneers again struck first, as Gonzaga singled and scored on senior Justin Cavagnaro's sacrifice fly in the first inning.

Pacific tied it in the fourth and then strung together runs over the next three frames. The Boxers plated three in the fifth, one in the sixth and two more in the seventh to open up a 7-1 lead. Potter came on in relief with two outs in the seventh and needed just one pitch to induce a flyout and end the threat.

Lewis & Clark showed a spark in the bottom of the seventh when Davis walked and Potter crushed a two-run homer over the right-field fence to trim the deficit to 7-3. That would be the Pios' final push, though, as Pacific's Nicholas Saelens shut the door with a complete-game performance. He struck out 11 and gave up just five hits to earn the win.

Eisen took the loss for the Pioneers despite a solid outing, striking out eight. First-year Matt Stanislavsky added a strikeout in one inning of work, while Potter finished with 2 1/3 hitless, scoreless frames.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The two teams combined for just six extra-base hits on Saturday, after slugging 13 in Friday's series opener.
• Sophomores Michael Aikawa, Gonzaga and Potter all extended their hitting streaks. Aikawa leads with six games, followed by Gonzaga (five) and Potter (three).
• Aikawa also reached base safely for the 12th straight game, going 3-for-7 with two walks.
• Potter has not allowed a run in his last six mound appearances, striking out eight over 6 2/3 innings.
• Gonzaga finished 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs in Game 1.

WHO'S NEXT
 
The Pioneers will host Warner Pacific in their final non-conference game of the season on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Jerry Gatto Field.