LACEY - With two outs in the bottom of the ninth Alex Bielaski hit a flare into left center that landed just beyond Bo Pearson's diving effort to give Saint Martin's a 7-6 non-conference victory over Pacific Lutheran on Sunday.
The Saints had two outs and nobody on base in the home half of the ninth before Adam Hudspeth sent a ground ball through the right side of the infield. Hudspeth then stole second and reached third on a throwing error before Bielsaski's game winner.
Needing a run in the top of the ninth inning to extend the game Jaron Iwakami had an RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. Ethan Ottemiller led the inning off with a pinch hit single. Pinch runner Jacob Olsufka advanced to second on a wild pitch then advanced to third on a fielder's choice groundout by Ryan Frost. Iwakami's RBI single capped the Lutes comeback effort.
Saint Martin's got to starter Trevor Lubking early scoring three runs in the first inning. Lubking lasted only three innings giving up four runs, three earned and walked four while striking out five.
Down 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning, the Lutes responded scoring five times, all with two outs. Two of the runs scored when Dominick Courcy and Brock Gates each were on the receiving end of a bases loaded HBP. Taylor Wattenberg and Sammy Davis both had RBI singles in the wild inning.
The 5-4 lead was short lived for the Lutes however as Saint Martin's scored twice in the bottom of the fifth on a two out RBI single off the bat of Spencer Dodd.
Neither team scored again until the dramatic ninth inning.
Before tying the game in the top of ninth frame the Lutes had runners on first and second and no outs in the eighth after Sammy Davis reached on an error and Brock Gates singled.
PLU failed to capitalize however after a failed sacrifice bunt attempt and a routine 4-6-3 double play.
AJ Konopasi was sharp in relief of Lubking giving up two runs in 4.1 innings of work. Ryan Frost pitched the ninth inning for the Lutes and absorbed the loss. Gates who finished 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI was the only Lute with more than one hit.
The loss dropped PLU's record to 5-3 and improved Saint Martin's to 2-12.