Setting the Scene: The Lutes open their home slate and Northwest Conference play this weekend, hosting in-state rival Whitworth University in a four-game series.
Series History: The Lutes and Pirates have met 95 times on the diamond since 1998 with the Lutes holding a 57-38 edge in the series. The two teams split the series last spring in Spokane. Plus prevailed 12-10 and 8-3 to open the series on April 10 but the host Pirates got the last laugh, winning 7-2 and 8-6 the following day.
About the Lutes: PLU (8-4, 0-0 NWC) opens NWC play this weekend after spending President's Day Weekend on the road in California. The Lutes earned a doubleheader split against Calremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges to open the weekend, falling 7-4 and winning 11-4 before dropping two at Chapman University (8-4 and 3-0). The Lutes rebounded on the final day in Cali, smashing California Lutheran University 10-0 and 14-0.
Casey Wright sports a team-best .471 batting average through the opening 12 games while Erin McGrath leads the team in extra base hits (eight), RBIs (14), and runs scored (17).
In the circle, Cassidy Conrad has seen the most action, pitching 19 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts while Kennedy Kila is 4-0 with a team-best 1.26 earned run average.
About the Pirates: Whitworth (10-2) heads across the state having won eight straight games. The Pirates were swept 9-1 and 4-2 by Texas Lutheran University on Feb. 12 but have since picked up doubleheader sweeps of Trinity University (5-3 & 15-3), California Lutheran University (5-4 & 11-2), Occidental College (4-2 & 2-1), and University of Redlands (4-1, 3-0).
Nashoni Boyd sports a team-best .462 batting average while Maddy Thomas leads the Pirates ion RBIs (15) and extra base hits (six).
Whitworth has used just two pitchers this season, splitting time between Momi Lyman and Corinne Vasiloff. Lyman has a team-best 1.50 earned run average with a 5-1 record while Vasiloff has a team-high 13 strikeouts along with a 5-1 record.
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Next Home Game:
Mar. 12: PLU hosts Willamette (DH) at 12 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu