Setting the Scene: The Lutes return home after a week on the road, hosting Northwest Conference rival Willamette University in a four-game series.
Series History: The Lutes and Bearcats have met 134 times on the diamond since 1981 with Pacific Lutheran enjoying a 100-34 edge in the series. That includes winning three of the four games last season with the Lutes outscoring the Bearcats 33-12 over the series.
About the Lutes: PLU (12-8, 4-4 NWC) open the conference slate by winning three straight but has since dropped four of its last five, including the final three games of the series last weekend against George Fox University.
The Lutes grinder out a 2-1 win in the opener last Saturday at GFU, getting a two-run blast from Erin McGrath in the fourth inning. Cassidy Conrad was dialed in inside the circle, allowing just four hits and striking out four for the complete game.
PLU fell behind 5-0 in the nightcap and was unable to fully rebound, falling 6-4 to settle for a split.
GFU took control on Sunday, winning 9-1 and 10-5 to wrap up the weekend.
Casey Wright is hitting .426 on the season to lead the Lutes, piling up 10 extra base hits and 16 RBIs. Mari Foster is hitting at a .417 clip with seven doubles. Erin McGrath has 14 extra baggers on the year, including seven home runs and a team-best 27 RBIs.
Cassidy Conrad has seen the most work inside the circle, logging 36 1/3 innings with 21 strikeouts. That includes three complete game efforts. Marley Dyer and Kennedy Kila have both pitched over 25 innings, combining for 34 strikeouts.
About the Bearcats: Willamette (5-7, 3-4 NWC) heads to Tacoma having won three of its last four. The Bearcats opened the NWC slate on Feb. 25 and 26, dropping three games against preseason favorite Linfield University before feasting on University of Puget Sound last weekend.
The Bearcats outlasted the Loggers 5-4 in a marathon nine-inning affair to open the series before prevailing 7-3 in the nightcap. UPS took game three by a 7-5 scoreline but Willamette earned the series win with a 3-1 victory in the series finale.
Mia Lund leads the Bearcats with a .314 batting average with 11 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Brianna Majors and Kelsey Wong lead Willamette with six RBIs while inside the circle Jordyn Johnson paces WU in innings pitched (31), strikeouts (24) and complete games (three). Kenna Davis has tossed 20 innings with a 2-0 record and a 1.40 earned run average.
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Next Home Game:
April 2: PLU hosts Linfield (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