ANTHEM, Ariz. - One day removed from Thursday's forgettable season-opening loss to Concordia (Texas), Pacific Lutheran got a strong pitching performance from Max Beatty in recording a 5-2 win over Cal Lutheran in the Arizona Desert Classic played at Boulder Creek High School.

Beatty, a hard-throwing sophomore right-hander, allowed only one unearned run on just five hits in eight innings of work as the Lutes improved their record to 1-1. With the loss, Cal Lutheran falls to 1-3 for the season.

Beatty mixed his low 90s fastball with effective off-speed pitches, walking just one and coaxing the Kingsmen into 16 ground ball outs. The only run he allowed came following a two-out error and a double in the sixth inning. Jacob Hoffman pitched the ninth, allowed an earned run on two walks.

On the offensive side, senior outfielder Ryan Aratani and frosh shortstop Nicholas Hall both collected a pair of PLU's 10 total hits, while junior first baseman Brock Gates reached base all four plate appearances with a hit, two walks and a hit by pitch.

The Lutes took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on consecutive singles by Aratani, Corey Moore and Dan Johansen. They added four more runs in the top of the sixth, making the most of two hits and three Cal Lutheran errors. The first run scored on a throwing error, and Hall delivered the next run with a single to centerfield. Jacob Olsufka's infield base hit led to a pair of runs on two Kingsmen throwing errors.

The Lutes return to action at 2 p.m. (Mountain Time) Saturday against Texas-Dallas.

- PLU -