TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team heads back on the road this weekend as they take on Northwest Conference nemesis Linfield College in a three-game series down in McMinnville, Oregon.
Last weekend the Lutes (13-8, 5-4 NWC) battled Lewis & Clark College at home in a four-game series, falling in three of the four to the Pioneers. The Lutes took the first game 11-3, before falling in the remaining three games by 7-0, 12-8, and 8-4 scorelines. The Lutes battled hard in all four games, but a bit of inconsistency in the bats and pitching prevented them from winning more.
"This is one of the hardest working teams I have ever played on," said senior
Jacob Mortensen. "Effort will never be an issue with us, we just need to get back to finding a way to be focused up for all nine innings."
Mortensen had a rare opportunity this weekend to get a few at-bats for the team in the final game of the series, which he took full advantage of with a two-RBI single late in the game.
"It was good to be able to contribute a little bit to the team when they needed me, even if it wasn't my primary role. At the end of the day it still wasn't enough to win, but a great feeling for me personally."
As a senior, Mortensen has had many great memories with the team on and off the field that he will never forget.
"Still one of my favorite memories is going to the Regional Final game in 2016. Being able to compete at a high level and seeing your team succeed at the highest level is something really special. Along those lines, I'm looking forward to getting to the point where we make it into post-season play so we can make this season just as special."
Mortensen is also very working very hard in the classroom getting ready to graduate next year.
"I'm a Kinesiology major with a focus in Exercise Science. Since I joined the major partway through my junior year, I plan on coming back a fifth year to earn my undergraduate degree."
"My interest came when I injured my elbow my sophomore year. Interacting with my orthopedic surgeon and rehabilitation staff showed me how much interest I had in the human body and how we function as individuals. I'm also active by nature and it felt like a good fit for me."
In his free time, Mortensen has many hobbies and activities that he is involved in and enjoys.
"I like to lift and play basketball, racquetball; anything to keep me active. I've been doing IT internships in the summers so I'm always learning and reading up on that kind of stuff when I have the time to."
Mortensen and the Lutes hit the diamond for game one of a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. PLU finishes the series on Sunday with a single game beginning at 12 p.m.
March 23: PLU vs. Linfield (DH) in McMinnville, Oregon (12 p.m.)
March 24: PLU vs. Linfield in McMinnville, Oregon (12 p.m.)
Series History: The Lutes and Wildcats have met 135 times since the 1980 season with Pacific Lutheran owning a 90-45 advantage in the series. PLU and Linfield were familiar foes last season, meeting seven times with the Lutes winning five of those encounters.
About the Wildcats: Linfield (4-14, 2-10 NWC) returns home looking to snap a four game slide. The Wildcats have dropped eight of their last nine, the lone victory a 6-3 triumph at the expense of Willamette University on March 9. Last weekend saw Linfield drop three against George Fox University, dropping games by 9-6, 11-3, and 15-3 scorelines.
Tanner Earhart leads the Wildcats with a .323 batting average while Brian Cromwell has 10 extra base hits and a team-high 15 RBIs. On the mound, Cason Cunningham has been the Wildcats' workhorse, logging 32 innings with a team-best 40 strikeouts while Colton Meyer has 34 punchouts in 29 1/3 innings of action.
