TACOMA, Wash. – The final homestand of the 2019 season for the Pacific Lutheran University Baseball team happens this weekend against the Boxers of Pacific University at PLU Field. Sunday will be the final home game for four Lutes as the team celebrate senior day at 12 p.m.
 
With four team members graduating this spring, the Lutes are celebrating the careers of four very different athletes. Jacob Bockelie, Marques Carlson, Max Cummings, and Tanner Zuber are all celebrating their final conference home series this weekend against the Boxers.
 
Each of these athletes has faced a very different path to get to their senior athletic season.  Jacob Bockelie, 2018's NWC Player of the year, played for 4 seasons over 5 years after taking 2016 off due to an unfortunate incident cutting an avocado.  In the 2019 season, Bockelie is batting .355 with 38 hits, 35 RBIs, and 9 home runs on the season, as well as an impressive .710 slugging percentage.
 
Marques Carlson, the second senior from the Lutes, has had a more straightforward path throughout his time at PLU, appearing in every season from 2016-2019.  In 2019, Carlson boasts a .248 batting average, with 29 hits and 18 RBIs, scoring 18 runs for the Lutes.
 
"It hasn't really hit me yet I don't think," said Carlson. "I've had so many great memories on our home field, whether that be big wins at home or even the everyday practices. We have a chance to make it into the conference tournament and that's all you can ask for this late in the season."
 
After graduating, Carlson is planning to travel Europe before pursuing a career in financial planning and advising.  
 
"PLU has helped me realize the importance of relationships in the business world. You work with a team a lot in the real world and I have experience of being a leader and even a captain on the PLU baseball team. I believe these same traits will translate into the business world as I can help and lead others to great opportunities."
 
Another senior from the Lutes, Max Cummings, had yet another different path at PLU.  Appearing in 4 games during his first two seasons, Cummings found his spot in the lineup, appearing as a designated hitter and infielder during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Cummings has accrued 13 RBIs on 16 hits, hitting .213 witch 5 doubles.  
 
The final senior for the Lutes, Tanner Zuber, has had a very different journey from the rest of his teammates.  After appearing in 22 games over his first 3 seasons, Zuber tore his UCL when the team was in Georgia, essentially putting an end to his season on the field.  However, it didn't end his contributions to the team.  
 
"My role on the team has definitely changed. Obviously, this is not how I imagined or would want my last couple years playing baseball would to go, but I'm thankful to have the opportunity to spend so much time with these guys. On the field, in the dugout, or outside of baseball we really do have great relationships amongst each other."
 
Zuber spends a lot of his time during games tracking pitches with other inactive pitchers, and in doing so gets a unique perspective over the team.  He gets to see the game from above, allowing him to make broader observations over the team, especially looking forward at this weekend's competition.
 
"With two conference series left and in a position to control our own destiny, our goal is to show up and play true PLU baseball. We are very strong offensively, defensively and on the mound. So we're going to put it all together this weekend, and give us a great opportunity to secure a spot in the conference tournament."
 
The Lutes play Game one of their series against the Boxers on Saturday, April 13 at 12 p.m.