Setting the Scene: Six sports compete over the Easter Weekend, including home games for baseball and softball and a home meet for field event athletes in track & field. Baseball welcomes in-state rival Whitworth University to PLU Field and celebrates Senior Day on Saturday while the softball squad hosts Pacific University in a four-game series. Lute field athletes enjoy an added home meet, competing against local competition at the PLU Spring Festival while the sprinters and distance runners head to Oregon for Linfield University's Jenn Boyman Memorial. 

A New Varsity Sport in Luteville: The Pacific Lutheran University athletic department will expand its varsity sports offerings for the 2024-2025 academic year, elevating the club women's lacrosse team to varsity status. PLU will compete on East Field and will become the ninth member of the NWC to sponsor the sport. The team will remain a club for next academic year as they prepare for the 2024-2025 launch. Learn more: LINK
 
FRIDAY:
BB hosts Whitworth (DH) at PLU Field (12 p.m.)
SB hosts Pacific (DH) at PLU Field (12 p.m.)
SATURDAY:
T&F Track Athletes at Jenn Boyman Memorial in McMinnville, Ore. (10 a.m.)
T&F Field Athletes at the PLU Spring Festival at the PLU Track (9 a.m.)
SB hosts Pacific (DH) at PLU Field (11 a.m.)
BB hosts Whitworth at PLU Field (12 p.m.)
MONDAY:
T&F at NWC Combined Events Championships in Tacoma, Wash. (UPS)
TUESDAY:
T&F at NWC Combined Events Championships in Tacoma, Wash. (UPS)
WEDNESDAY:
BB at Linfield (DH) in McMinnville, Ore. (12 p.m.)
 
Baseball: The Lutes (13-15, 7-9 NWC) extended their win streak to four over the weekend, sweeping crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound.
 
An Andy Schmitz three-run home run put the Lutes up early in game one on Saturday and weathered a late Logger charge for the 9-8 win. 
 
PLU trailed early in game two but poured on seven runs in the top of the ninth to secure a 13-9 win. Cole Trotignon headlined the game, belting his 23rd career home run in the sixth inning, shattering the school record.
 
The good vibes continued on Sunday with Jonathan Cohen pitching six innings and striking out six while Chris Moreno struck out two in the final inning for the 6-4 win to sweep Puget Sound.
 
Women's Rowing: Pacific Lutheran tested its mettle against some of the best crews in the Western United States over the weekend at the San Diego Crew Classic.
 
PLU's varsity four boat of Jess Crespo, Chloe Froeschner, Hannah Miyasaki, Beth Hawes, and coxswain Jessica Heinauer finished runner up in the Collegiate DII/DIII/Club final, covering the 2,000-meter course on Mission Bay in nine minutes, 7.731 seconds. PLU's varsity eight finished third overall in Sunday's Final 2.
 
On Monday, the Lutes' varsity four was tabbed the NWC Crew of the Week. It marks the second time this spring a Lute boat has earned the honor.
 
Track & Field: PLU sent a small squad to Forest Grove, Oregon on Saturday but generated big results at the Pacific Open. Masum Real won the shot put for the fourth time this spring, claiming the top spot with a heave of 51 feet, nine inches while Ava Nelson remained undefeated in the javelin with a toss of 142' 3".
 
Both Real and Nelson were honored by the NWC on Monday, securing NWC Field Athlete of the Week laurels. It was the third time this season that both Real and Nelson have won the honors. Nelson currently ranks No. 1 in the nation in the javelin while Real boasts the third best shot put mark in D3. 
 
Women's Golf: The Lutes returned to the links last weekend, finishing fifth at the NWC Spring Classic in Post Falls, Idaho. Sara Rhodes headlined the tournament for PLU, shooting a 163 (85-78) to place seventh overall. 
 
As a team, the Lutes shaved off 42 strokes from round one to round two, closing the tourney with a score of 694 (368-326). PLU finished just four strokes back of third place Whitman College and was 32-points ahead of crosstown rival University of Puget Sound.
 
Softball: The Lutes (18-12, 10-8 NWC) earned a road split at Whitworth University on Thursday but didn't fare as well against seventh-ranked Linfield University, dropping four games over the weekend in McMinnville, Oregon.
 
The host Pirates scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning of game one, sneaking out a 5-3 victory before PLU scored runs in each of the final four innings to rally to the 6-1 win in game two. Kennedy Kila tossed a complete game in the win while driving in a run to help her cause.
 
In Oregon, the Lutes came up short 9-1 and 8-5 on Saturday while stumbling 14-3 and 8-4 on Sunday.
 
PLU still remains one of the best offensive teams in the nation, ranking second nationally in home runs, fourth in hits, and fifth in D3 in doubles.
 
Men's Golf: The Lutes competed at the 2023 NWC Spring Classic at the Links Golf Course in Idaho last weekend, finishing tied for sixth with intracity rivals Puget Sound.
 
Joshua Clogston led the charge, finishing 10th overall with a 148 (75-73). As a team, PLU shot a 635, cutting 35 strokes off its score from round one to round two.