TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University softball team heads down to Portland this weekend to open up Northwest Conference play with a four-game series against Lewis & Clark College.
 
Last week the Lutes (8-3) had their last non-league games before conference play, facing off against Northwest Christian University in a doubleheader last Friday. The Lutes swept the series, winning 4-3 in the first game and 12-4 in a mercy-rule shortened second game.
 
"Our doubleheader win against Northwest Christian really showed how much grit our team has," said Becca Sorensen. "We were playing in some pretty tough weather conditions, but we were still able to push through it together and come out with two great wins."
 
The Lutes have a very strong start to the season, heading into this weekend's conference opener in Portland riding a five game win streak. 
 
"We're going into this series against Lewis & Clark with a lot of energy and focus. We've been working really hard in practice and I think that will show during our conference play this weekend."
 
Sorensen is a senior this year and has enjoyed her years of playing Lute ball. 
 
"I have so many great memories from PLU softball but I would say traveling to California, Texas, and Arizona have been some of my favorite memories. It's always fun being in a new environment and getting to play games against other great DIII universities."
 
As a senior, Sorensen is very busy with classes and academics preparing for graduation this spring. 
 
"I'm a nursing major and am hoping to stay in the Tacoma area after graduation. I'm still figuring out which type of nursing I want to go into, but I am currently interested in labor and delivery or in the emergency department."
 
"I have always been interested in the medical field, but it wasn't until I started the nursing program at PLU that I really found my passion for nursing. I love the face to face interaction with patients and being there for them in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I've realized that in this profession, I can truly make a difference, which I think is pretty special."
 
Outside of softball and academics, Sorensen has many things that she enjoys doing in her free time. 
 
"I love to do anything creative, like painting or drawing. I also love to be outside, whether that's hiking, walking, or playing a sport other than softball."
 
Sorensen and the team are very much looking forward to conference play and the competition that it will provide. 
 
"I'm looking forward to making the most of every game with my teammates. I have always loved getting into our regular season games and I'm really excited to see what our team accomplishes this season."
 
Mar. 2: PLU vs. Lewis & Clark (DH) in Portland, Oregon (12 p.m.)
Mar. 3: PLU vs. Lewis & Clark (DH) in Portland, Oregon (12 p.m.)
 
Series History: PLU has been simply dominant dating back to 1981, winning 120 of the 132 meetings since then. Last season the teams earned a split, both winning two games during the series at PLU Field. 
 
About the Pioneers: Lewis & Clark (2-2) heads into the weekend with considerably less game experience than the Lutes. The Pios opened the season on Feb. 16, earning a doubleheader split against Northwest University. Lewis & Clark was outslugged 13-12 in the opener before taking the nightcap 10-2. The following day Lewis & Clark faced Northwest Christian, falling 5-2 in game one before closing the series with a 9-2 win.
 
Olivia Brackin leads the team with a .600 batting average, two home runs, six RBIs, and six runs scored while Emily Drevdahl sports a .538 average. Inside the circle, Savannah Dickson is the ace, logging a team-high 16 innings with five strikeouts and a 2.63 earned run average.