TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team heads down south to Atlanta this weekend, to battle Emory University on Friday, Oglethorpe University on Saturday, and Piedmont College on Sunday.
 
Last week the Lutes (2-2) had a busy three-day stretch down in Arizona playing four games against four different colleges. They defeated University of Redlands 13-8 and University of La Verne 6-4, and fell to Chapman University 15-5 and University of Texas Dallas 15-5.
 
This was the first road trip of the year for the Lutes, and a great opportunity to grow and develop as a team. 
 
"In our time in Arizona, our team was able to get to know each other on a much more personal level as we became more comfortable with one another," said freshman King Jimenez-Cruz who hit .615 with four RBIs and five runs scored during the opening trip. "We were able to carry our chemistry out on the field in Tucson and we look forward to carry this comradery to Georgia and throughout the season."
 
Jimenez-Cruz is entering his first season as a Lute on the diamond and learning how to transition from high school baseball to college baseball. 
 
"The transition was tough as I came from a school where I won four career high school games, to a team that comes off a Northwest Conference championship. You learn college baseball is a grind with early weights and the long practices, anyone on the baseball team knows what I mean when I say long practices. The academics part was challenging as well as I learned in college you have to put your front foot forward and do what's asked of you and more. You really get what you put in."
 
Jimenez-Cruz is not yet sure what major he wants to pursue, but he does have clear plans to strive for post-graduation. 
 
"I want to work in the inner cities and help out the youth. I want to help lower the 'statistics' you see in the news and make a change. My interest steered from my life in Kent and seeing how life really is. You learn life isn't really sweet and every day is a challenge for someone out there."
 
Off the diamond and out of the classroom, Jimenez-Cruz loves to play 2K Basketball and hanging out with his brothers. 
 
As Jimenez-Cruz is getting going in his first season, he is looking forward to playing hard for his teammates and seeing where the season takes him. 
 
"I'm most looking forward to competing for the NWC Championship and helping my guys Tanner Zuber, Marques Carlson, Max Cummings, and Jacob Bockelie, which are our four seniors get to a Regional plus more for their final season at PLU. I appreciate you guys!"
 
The team is looking notch some good performances as they travel to Georgia this weekend. The team will face-off against Emory University at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Friday in Atlanta, Oglethorpe University at 3 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Saturday in Atlanta, and Piedmont College at 12 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Sunday in Demorest. 
 
Feb. 15: PLU vs. Emory in Atlanta, Georgia (2 p.m. Eastern Time)
 
Series History: The Eagles and Lutes have met twice with the series tied 1-1. Both encounters came during the 2015 NCAA Division III Tournament in Atlanta. 
 
About the Eagles: Emory (1-0) open the season on Wednesday, utilizing a walk-off error to down in-state rival LaGrange College 2-1. Ryan Adelman plated the decisive run in the bottom of the ninth, scoring after an errant throw from the outfield.
 
Richard Brereton and Jack Rubenstein both finished with a pair of hits while Brereton additionally labored eight innings on the mound, striking out eight and allowing just four hits. Reliever Jack Brodsky tallied the win, tossing the final inning and retiring the side in order. 
 
Feb. 16: PLU vs. Oglethorpe in Atlanta, Georgia (3 p.m. Eastern Time)
 
Series History: The Lutes and Stormy Petrels have never met on the baseball diamond. 
 
About the Stormy Petrels: Oglethorpe (1-3) heads into the weekend looking to snap a three-game slide. The Stormy Petrels blanked Covenant College 5-0 in the season opener on Feb. 8 before dropping both ends of a doubleheader against The Scots the following day, stumbling 4-3 and 11-9. Oglethorpe was back on the diamond on Wednesday, suffering a 10-4 defeat at the hands of Piedmont. 
 
Austin Jackson leads Oglethorpe with a .467 batting average while Andrew Mink has three extra base hits and a team-best six RBIs. Jonathan Haab has a spotless earned run average, striking out nine and allowing just three hits in six innings of action. 
 
Feb. 17: PLU vs. Piedmont in Demorest, Georgia (12 p.m. Eastern Time)
 
Series History: This will be the first meeting between the Lutes and Lions. 
 
About the Lions: Piedmont (3-2) opened the season with an 11-3 victory over Berry College before dropping two of three at the Cactus Classic in Arizona. The Lions edged Pacific University 6-5 but fell 4-3 in 11 innings to California Lutheran University and 8-6 to Chapman. The Lions return to the win column on Wednesday, rolling Oglethorpe 10-4. 
 
Tyler Burdette leads the Lions with a .471 batting average while Andrew Burdon has been Piedmont's best run generator, collecting eight RBIs on the young season.
 
On the mound, Sam Carpenter has seen the most work, pitching 11 innings and striking out 10.