TACOMA, Wash.  Twice on Saturday host and 18th-ranked Pacific Lutheran University was able to battle back to steal wins from Whitman in Northwest Conference baseball action at PLU Field. The Lutes took game one, 11-5, before rallying in the bottom of the ninth to steal the nightcap, 9-8.

The Blues slip to 6-8 within the league and 11-14 overall, while the Lutes improve to 14-3 and 16-5, respectively.

Joseph Zimmer had the hot bat for Whitman all afternoon, collecting six hits -- including a home run in the opener -- and three walks, scoring three runs, and picking up four RBI.

His solo home run in the top of the third inning of Game 1 pulled the Blues to within a run of the nationally-ranked Lutes, with a tying RBI coming in the next inning on a sacrifice fly from Jasper Crusberg.

In the nightcap it was Zimmer's two-RBI single that initiated a five-run top of the seventh inning for Whitman, lifting the visitors to a 6-1 lead.

The fireworks started early in the opener, as Adrian Vela popped a three-run blast over the fence in left-center field to provide the Blues with a quick 3-0 lead. But Pacific Lutheran responded, scoring four in the bottom of the frame to wrest the lead away.

The Lutes would add another run before Zimmer's homer and Crusberg's tying sac fly in the fourth.

Runs in the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth off Whitman relievers saved the Lutes from the challenge by Whitman.

An 8-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the ninth in Game 2 was promising for Whitman, but three relievers surrendered seven runs, including a walk-off RBI single up the middle by PLU's Connor Cantu, to spoil the upset bid by the Blues.

Eric Ma started the game on the mound for Whitman and lasted six innings, surrendering just one run on five hits. But the seven-run ninth PLU negated Ma's strong outing.

The Blues and Lutes are at it again Sunday in a doubleheader, only the first of which counts within the league standings. First pitch of Game 1 at PLU Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.