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Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

Scoreboard

GOLUTES.COM
Justin Armbruester
Bailey Plumb
4
Pacific Lutheran PLU 22-15, NWC
5
Winner Whitworth WHTW-BB 23-12, NWC
Pacific Lutheran PLU
22-15, NWC
4
Final
5
Whitworth WHTW-BB
23-12, NWC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Pacific Lutheran PLU 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 11 0
Whitworth WHTW-BB 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 X 5 7 1

W: Thomas, Brett (1-0) L: Armbruester, Justin (5-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Sarah Cornell-Maier, Sports Information Assistant

Armbruester Tallies Strikeout Record But Lutes Fall Short, 5-4

SPOKANE, Wash. - Justin Armbruester broke the single season strikeout record with eight punchouts on Friday at the Northwest Conference Tournament but it wasn't enough as the fourth-seeded Pacific Lutheran University baseball team fell to host and top-seeded Whitworth University 5-4 to open the double-elimination tournament.

The Lutes (22-15) started off the game with a bang, with singles from Andy Schmitz, Marques Carlson, and Jacob Bockelie scoring the first run of the first inning. An Austin Gormley double drove in Carlson and Bockelie, and a single from Max Cummings scored Gormley to put the Lutes ahead 4-0.

Unfortunately that was the last of the scoring from the Lutes, and the Pirates (23-12) were able to get three runs back in the second, and took the lead in the seventh inning to take the win.

"We played well today, Whitworth just had a couple more timely hits than we had," said Head Coach Nolan Soete. "We need to come out tomorrow and play well. Our back is against the wall, but every team we play tomorrow will be in the same situation. We will be ready to compete."

Even though the Lutes recorded a loss on the day, there was still a PLU victory on the mound.

Sophomore starting pitcher Justin Armbruester recorded eight strikeouts on the day, taking him to 114 on the season. This put him on top of the PLU all-time season strikeout record list ahead of Trevor Lubking, the Lute Alum who had 111 during the 2014 season.

"The strikeout record is something I've had my eye on since the preseason," said Armbruester. "I set a goal to continue developing my third pitch and it made a significant difference in my ability to mix pitches against batters.I couldn't do any of this without a team behind me. Their defense gave me the confidence to just work pitch to pitch in every game. "

"The PLU record holder, Trevor Lubking was my pitching coach in my senior year of high school and really helped develop the mechanics I have today.  He has been supportive all season and especially as I was getting close to 111. I hope he's proud that his student was the one to get it done."

The Lutes return to the field on Saturday  at 1 p.m. taking on Pacific University in the elimination game.
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