MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — The Pacific Lutheran University baseball team showed little signs of rust in the season opener on Friday night, smashing host Linfield University 8-3 to open the three-game non-conference series.
 
The visiting Lutes (1-0) drew first blood, plating a trio of runs in the third inning. Braeden Lundberg led off the inning by drawing a walk, advancing to third on a Rutger Youch double down the line. Andy Schmitz plated Lundberg on a sacrifice fly while an Aaron Barber sac fly allowed Youch to touch home plate. An Ethan Keintz triple down the left field line scored Cole Trotignon to make it 3-0.
 
Linfield (0-1) responded in the bottom of the third, manufacturing a pair of runs. 
 
PLU padded its lead in the fourth getting RBI singles from Schmitz and Barber to push the lead to 5-2 before getting an RBI base hit from Keintz in the seventh. Sac flies from Trotignon and Keintz put the Lutes up 8-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Wildcats pushed across a run in the ninth but it wasn't enough as the Lutes cruised to the win to open the year.
 
"We played well in all three phases today," said Head Coach Nolan Soete. 
 
Barber led the way in his Lute debut, going three-for-four with two RBIs. Keintz was two-for-three with three RBIs while Schmitz scored two runs and drove in two more. As a team, the Lutes pounded out 12 hits against the Wildcat pitching staff that cycling through six on the bump. 
 
"We put together a lot of quality at-bats. Schmitz and Barber did a great job setting the tone. Keintz also had a big day at the plate driving in three runs."
 
Spencer Howell had the opening day start, pitching five innings and striking out six to earn the win. Wyatt Norris earned the save after providing four innings of long relief, striking out two. Howell and Norris were dialed in on the mound, issuing just one walk all day.
 
"Howell and Norris did an excellent job pounding the zone. We only had one walk on the day. Overall, it was a quality win against a good opponent."
 
The Lutes are back on the diamond tomorrow at noon with a doubleheader against Linfield to close out the weekend series.