TACOMA, Wash. - The Lute offensive attack continued its torrid start to the 2022 season on Friday afternoon, scoring 10 runs on 15 hits in an easy 10-3 nonconference victory over crosstown rival University of Puget Sound.
"It was a good team effort today," said PLU Head Coach
Nolan Soete. "We had a lot of quality at-bats, played solid defense and Howell took care of business out of the pen."
PLU (3-0) scored 21 runs in a doubleheader against Texas Lutheran University last weekend, and put up 10 more this afternoon. The visitors got on the board on their first opportunity, when
Ashton Barton hit a sacrifice fly to score
Tori Doten in the top of the first.
The Loggers held a 2-1 advantage for just a half inning after they registered a pair in the bottom of the second off of Lute starter
Tommy Snyder. The heart of the Lute ordered answered quickly as All-American
Jordan Haworth ripped a RBI double,
Cole Trotignon hit a sac fly and
Connor Lemma hit a RBI single in the third. PLU scored solo tallies in the fourth and fifth frames before blowing the game open with a four-spot in the sixth. Trotignon,
Sean Kauffman,
Alex Boyd and
Andy Schmitz all had RBI singles in the inning, which featured six base hits for the Lutes.
Snyder did not get a decision after throwing 94 pitches in 4.1 innings of work. The reigning Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Week struck out six and scattered nine hits to only give up three runs.
Spencer Howell earned the win for PLU (1-0) after getting six of his eight outs via the strikeout and allowing just one hit.
Jack Robinette tossed a scoreless ninth to slam the door on the Loggers.
Schmitz keyed the offensive attack out of the leadoff spot with four hits and three runs scored. Reigning NWC Hitter of the Week, Trotignon had three more hits and a pair of RBI.
Alex Boyd also had two hits and drove in a pair. The Lutes were demons on the basepaths, swiping six bags including two by Haworth and Kauffman.
"We are excited to get back at it on our home turf tomorrow," said Soete. "Trotignon will go game one and Cohen will get the start in game two. Go Lutes!"
The Lutes' home opener is tomorrow when they host Saint Martin's University for a doubleheader at 11:00 a.m.
