Setting the Scene: Spring Break starts this weekend for the Lutes but there's no break for the Pacific Lutheran University Athletic Department's eight spring sports. Track & field hosts its second straight home meet, welcoming teams to the Brad Moore Invitational while women's rowing battles arch rival University of Puget Sound for the Lamberth Cup. Baseball and softball head to Oregon for a weekend series with Pacific University while the golf programs battle South Puget Sound Community College on Sunday. 

The weekend is a prelude to a busy Spring Break with the Lutes hosting home games Monday through Thursday.

FRIDAY:
T&F hosts Brad Moore Invitational (hammer throw only) at PLU Track (12 p.m.)
SATURDAY:
ROW vs. Puget Sound for the Lamberth Cup on American Lake (8:30 a.m.)
T&F hosts Brad Moore Invitational at PLU Track (9:30 a.m.)
BB at Pacific (DH) in Forest Grove, Ore. (12 p.m.)
SB at Pacific (DH) in Forest Grove, Ore. (12 p.m.)
SUNDAY:
Golf at South Puget Sound CC in Tumwater, Wash. (Tumwater Valley GC)
SB at Pacific (DH) in Forest Grove, Ore. (12 p.m.)
BB at Pacific in Forest Grove, Ore. (12 p.m.)
MONDAY:
WLAX hosts Lawrence at East Field (1 p.m.)
TUESDAY:
BB vs. George Fox at PLU Field (2 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY:
SB vs. Lewis & Clark at PLU Field (12 p.m.)
WLAX hosts Kalamazoo at East Field (1 p.m.)
THURSDAY:
SB vs. Lewis & Clark at PLU Field (11 a.m.)

Softball: The Lutes (8-4) wrapped up non-conference play last weekend in California, winning five of their six games in the Golden State.

Pacific Lutheran opened the trip with a doubleheader sweep of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, prevailing 6-2 and 8-4, before thumping California Lutheran University the following afternoon, pounding out a combined 33 hits in 8-0 and 12-0 victories. 

The Lutes capped off the trip with a doubleheader split with then No. 19 Chapman University, falling 6-1 in the opener before rebounding for the 5-2 victory in game two. 

Maiya Anderson was dialed in for the Lutes inside the circle, throwing 14 2/3 innings and striking out two with a 0.95 earned run average on the trip. That included carrying a no-hitter into the final inning in PLU's 12-0 win over Cal Lu. 

Anderson wasn't the only Lute making noise on the weekend with Paola Garcia winning Northwest Conference Hitter of the Week for her efforts in the six game series. Garcia boasted a .455 batting average against the three opponents with a .682 slugging percentage. Garcia belted out 10 hits and had eight RBIs while scoring six runs. 

Women's Track & Field: PLU battled the elements on Friday, winning six events and the team title at the PLU Open. 

The Lutes started the meet which featured a steady dose of both snow and rain by winning the 4x100-meter relay in a time of 50.41 seconds. Pacific Lutheran also secured victories from Addisen Hering in the 100-meter hurdles (16.16), Lexie McGurk in the 200-meter dash (27.55), Abi Caprye in the high jump (4' 11 ¾"), Kyleigh Archer in the triple jump (34' 7 ¾"), and Ki Neir in the pole vault (10' 11 ¾").

The Lutes secured the team crown after collecting 230 points, besting the 12 team field and owning a 100-point gap on second place Puget Sound. 

Men's Track & Field: Micah Ragaza-Bourassa placed fourth overall and was the top D3 finisher in the hammer throw with a toss of 159' 0". It was a performance that secured him NWC Field Athlete of the Week honors, becoming the second Lute in as many weeks to land the honor.

On the track, the Lutes won the 4x100-meter relay in 44.61 while Jack Erickson was fourth in the 400-meter dash (55.60) and Noah Friedrich was fifth in the 5,000-meters (16:06.45). 

Bridger Hanis was fifth in the high jump, leaping 5' 9 ¾"  with Hunter Kleindl fifth in the pole vault (13' 6"). 

Indoor Attaways: The USTFCCCA announced its Indoor All-Region honorees with Hunter Kleindl, Ki Neir, and Kyleigh Archer all securing All-West Region accolades. 

Women's Rowing: The Lutes are back on the water on Saturday, testing their mettle against boathouse nemesis Puget Sound for the Lamberth Cup.

PLU last raced on March 7, hosting the PLU Invitational. That regatta was the Lute varsity eight boat win a pair of races to start off the spring. The 1V8+ clocked a time of 7:29.7 in its first 2,000-meter race of the spring, owning a 24.3 second gap on Milwaukee School of Engineering while crossing the line 45.3 seconds clear of Pacific University.
 
Round two saw the Lutes' 1V8+ edge Lewis & Clark College by almost eight seconds, finishing in 7:31.2. 

Baseball: Pacific Lutheran (3-7, 1-4 NWC) had its home opener spoiled on Sunday by George Fox University, dropping both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 7-3 and 5-2. 

Grayson Meier had a pinch hit 2-RBI single in the bottom of the ninth in game one but it was enough for a Lute squad that fell behind early to the Bruins. 

George Fox jumped on the Lutes early again in game two, building a 4-0 lead after two innings of action. Brody Phinney singled in Kyle Tat for the Lutes' first run in the fifth inning while Asa Reese went yard in the seventh, but the Lutes were unable to generate any more runs.

Osei Kimura tossed three innings of scoreless relief in game two, striking out two while allowing just two hits. 

Women's Golf: The Lutes finished sixth overall at the Willamette Valley Cup held at Creekside Golf Club in Salem, Oregon.

Jayda Thomas led the way, tying for 11th overall after shooting a two-round tally of 161. Thomas shot an 80 to open the event on Saturday before carding an 81 during Sunday's final round.

The Lutes finished with a team score of 687, finishing one stroke shy of fifth place Bushnell University. 

Men's Golf: Two Lutes cracked the Top 15 on Sunday at the Willamette Valley Cup, powering the squad to a seventh place team finish.
Marcus Otto was on fire in round two, shooting a two-under 69 in the final day to scoot up the leaderboard, moving from 14th to third overall. Otto finished the two day event with a score of 140 (71-69) while Koen Solis was 13th with a 143 (72-71). 

Women's Lacrosse: Kathleen Swankowski provided offensive fireworks on Saturday against Linfield University, scoring twice for the Lutes in a 13-2 setback to the Wildcats.
PLU's stingy defense allowed just one goal in the first quarter and kept the visitors at bay before they scored the final four goals of the half to enjoy a 6-1 halftime edge. PLU hit the road on Sunday, falling 22-0 against Lewis & Clark College in a game the Lutes were missing two of their usual starters. 

Swankowski now sits one goal shy of leading scorers Issabella Marchio and Taylee Alldredge who both have seven goals on the year.