Setting the Scene: Five sports are in action this weekend, with all five competing in the Evergreen State. Men's and women's track & field opens the lid on the outdoor season at nearby University of Puget Sound with baseball beginning Northwest Conference play on the road in Spokane against Whitworth University. Men's and women's golf stay local for the weekend with dual matches against crosstown rival Puget Sound at the Oakbrook Golf Club.
 
FRIDAY:
T&F at Ed Boitano Invitational in Tacoma, Wash. (Pole Vault & Hammer Throw at PLU; 10K at UPS)
SATURDAY:
T&F at Ed Boitano Invitational in Tacoma, Wash. (11 a.m.)
WGolf vs. Puget Sound at Oakbrook Golf Club
BB at Whitworth (DH) in Spokane, Wash. (11 a.m.)
SUNDAY:
MGolf vs. Puget Sound at Oakbrook Golf Club
BB at Whitworth (DH) in Spokane, Wash. (11 a.m.)
 
S is for Service: The seven-time Northwest Conference Champion PLU women's soccer team gave back to the community over the President's Day Weekend, volunteering at the Northwest Presidents Cup hosted by Rainier Adapted Sports. Learn more: LINK
 
Baseball: The Lutes (1-6) open up conference play in eastern Washington this weekend after playing four games in southern California last week. PLU opened its tour of the Golden State against 23rd-ranked University of La Verne, falling 13-3, 13-5, and 12-4, to the host Leopards. 
 
On Sunday, the Lutes were tied with Pomona-Pitzer Colleges before surrendering a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth in a 5-3 setback.
 
Aaron Barber and Rochne Beecham lead the Lutes at the plate, both driving in four RBIs so far this season while on the mound starting pitcher Chris Moreno had seven strikeouts across two appearances. Kamryn Swartz has two appearances this spring— one in the pen and one as a starter— limiting opposing hitters to a paltry .136 batting average across the two games. 
 
Women's Golf: The Lutes finished 10th earlier this week at The Trailblazer Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
 
Emily Fisher and Abby Matelski headlined the two-day tournament for the Lutes against a stacked NAIA field, tying for 44th overall. Fisher shot a 186 (101-85), showing a 16-stroke improvement from day one to day two while Matelski shot 96-90 over the two rounds. 
 
Track & Field: Pacific Lutheran begins the outdoor season after a five-meet indoor slate. 
 
Grady Lemma was the lone Lute to compete last weekend at the University of Washington's Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational, finishing fourth in his heat of the 60-meter hurdles in 8.56 seconds. 
 
During the indoor season, the Lutes had 15 performances that ranked in the top 20 of the West Region, including top 10 marks from Keola Sanchez in the 60-meters (second), Abi Caprye in the high jump (fourth), Grady Lemma in the pole vault (fifth) and 60-meter hurdles (seventh), Georjina Soliai in the shot put (eighth), Teuila Ilaio in the shot put (10th), and Sandra Valmonte in the weight throw (eighth). 
 
Softball: PLU (2-4) began its 2024 campaign over the weekend in southern California, winning two of its six games. 
 
The Lutes held leads in both games against University of Redlands on Friday but was unable to come away with the wins, getting edged 4-3 and 7-3 by the host Bulldogs.
 
It was all smiles on Saturday, slamming University of La Verne 10-4 in extra innings in the opener before a Casey Wright sacrifice fly gave the Lutes' a 5-4 victory in game two.  
 
The weekend closed out with a pair 3-2 defeats at the hands of Chapman University.
 
PLU's trademark power at the plate was on full display with the team cranking out five home runs over the weekend, including Casey Wright and Zoe Smithson both blasting three-run home runs in extra innings in the win over La Verne.
 
Men's Golf: The Lutes are back in action this weekend for the first time since early February. PLU last teed off on Feb. 10, getting edged by 21 strokes by Saint Martin's University in a dual match at the Olympia Country Club. 
 
Koen Solis led the way, shooting a one-over 72 with Tanner Frinell carding a 73. 
 
Rowing: The Lutes have this weekend off before competing at home on American Lake to open the spring season on March 9. The regatta— the PLU Invitational— is the first of two straight home races for the Lutes before hitting the road for regattas in Maryland and Oregon. 
 
All-Star Attaways: The NWC released its postseason award winners for men's basketball last Friday with Miles Nash and Brandin Riedel both securing All-Conference accolades. 
 
A sophomore guard, Nash earned Second Team All-NWC in his first season as a Lute while Riedel, a senior big man, secured Second Team All-League for the second straight year.