MCMINNVILLE, Ore. - The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team brought the lumber to Oregon to open the 2021 season, smashing host Linfield University 14-4 on Friday afternoon.

PLU drew first blood in the opening inning with a Wildcat error allowing Tori Doten to score for the early 1-0 advantage. The Lutes (1-0) tacked on two more in the third with Cole Trotignon driving in Andy Schmitz before an Austin Gormley base knock plated Jordan Haworth. 
 
Linfield (0-1) pushed across a single run in the bottom of the third before the Lutes exploded for five runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth, building a 13-1 advantage. 
 
PLU's first run of the fourth came on a wild pitch before Trotignon drew a bases loaded RBI walk. A Gormley sacrifice fly plated another before Conner Lemma singled in a score. Armond Swanson III drove in the fifth run of the fourth with a sacrifice fly. 
 
More fireworks erupted in the fifth, including a Trotignon double down the line to score three before Lemma belted a two-run home run. 
 
Trotignon added another RBI in the sixth, pushing the Lute lead to 14-2. Linfield scratched across a run apiece in the sixth, seventh, and eighth, but couldn't close the gap as the Lutes prevailed in the season opener.
 
Lemma finished the game five-for-six with three RBIs while Trotignon drove in six runs in his Lute debut. Tori Doten pounded out three hits, Andy Schmitz scored four runs, while Austin Gormley had a pair of RBIs. 
 
Justin Tucker picked up the victory on the hill, striking out three in 5 2/3 innings of work. Nathan Anderson and Trevor Mason each tossed 1 2/3 innings to close out the game.

"Tucker set the tone on the mound by throwing a ton of strikes and we played well defensively all day," said Head Coach Nolan Soete. 

"Lemma had a great day, it was nice to see because he's been working hard to improve his swing. Doten is a gamer, he had strong plate appearances all day and Trotignon did a nice job pounding mistakes and driving guys in. Overall it was a good win against a quality opponent."

The Lutes and Cats return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.