Setting the Scene: It's crunch time for the Pacific Lutheran University baseball team as it enters the final weekend of the regular season needing to sweep crosstown rival University of Puget Sound to book the fourth and final spot in the 2026 Northwest Conference Tournament. The Loggers meanwhile need to win just one game of the three-game series to claim that final spot.
The two Tacoma rivals will play four games this weekend— two NWC games on Saturday plus the NWC series finale on Sunday followed by a non-conference game to wrap the weekend.
Series History: The crosstown rivals have met 172 times since the 1980 season with PLU holding a 108-63-1 advantage in the series. The two teams last met on April 22 in a non-conference game at Logger Field. The visiting Lutes scored early and often, getting home runs from Braeden Lundberg and Carson Burke in an 11-2 Lute victory.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (12-22, 9-12 NWC) enters the weekend in control of its postseason destiny, needing to sweep the crosstown Loggers to snag the fourth and final spot in the NWC Tournament. PLU earned a doubleheader split on Saturday in Walla Walla, stumbling 10-8 in the opener before rebounding with a 9-6 victory in game two over Whitman College. The Lutes weren't so lucky on Sunday, surrendering leads in a 12-6 setback to close the NWC series and falling 7-6 in a non-conference game with the Blues to conclude the weekend.
Braeden Lundberg was dialed in during game one of the series, going three-for-five at the plate while Keintz had a home run in the opener before going three-for-four with two runs scored in game two of the series.
Kaleb McNeely was the Lutes' top weapon in the NWC series finale, going four-for-four with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Ethan Keintz leads the Lutes with a .348 batting average. The senior has 24 RBIs, 23 runs scored, and 13 extra base hits. Kyle Tat boasts a .318 average with 22 RBIs while Carson Burke is the team's power hitter with eight home runs and 20 extra base hits and a team-leading 32 RBIs. Braeden Lundberg is hitting just under .300 with a .293 average with 20 RBIs and a 27 runs scored.
Matthew Sherwood has seen the most action on the mound, tossing 60 1/3 innings with 64 strikeouts across 13 appearances. Alex Lopez has logged 53 innings on the hill with 35 punch outs while Osei Kimora has tossed 45 2/3.
About the Loggers:Â Puget Sound (21-14, 12-9 NWC) took two of three against Linfield University last weekend and sits one win away from earning the fourth and final spot in the conference tournament.
The Loggers have finished the conference slate strong, winning five of their last six. That run of success began on the road in Salem, Oregon, sweeping Willamette University 4-3, 12-3, and 6-5, with the latter a marathon 11-inning affair to close the series.
Last weekend, Puget Sound hosted the Wildcats, splitting the doubleheader on Saturday before winning the rubber match 12-3 on Sunday. Saturday saw Puget Sound hold on for a 4-3 win in the opener before dropping game two 8-1 after Linfield piled on seven runs over the final three innings.
Cooper Allen leads the Loggers at the plate with a .386 batting average while Charlie Deggeller sports a .333 average. Kellen Krebs is a .319 hitter with 27 RBIs and 16 extra base hits while Ryan Spero is the fourth Puget Sound player hitting above .300 with a .305 average. Matt Churchill is the power hitter with 11 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 32 runs scored.
On the mound, Charlie Decker has seen the most work, sporting a 6-1 record and a 3.96 earned run average in 61 1/3 innings of work with 40 strikeouts. Cal Johnson leads the team in punch outs with 50 across 45 innings of work and is the only other Logger pitcher with at least 30 innings pitched. Zach Roman has proved to be a reliable bullpen arm with a 4-1 record and four saves across 12 appearances.
NWC Preseason Poll
The Lutes look to exceed expectations and return to the NWC Tournament after being picked seventh in the annual NWC preseason coaches' poll. The Lutes tallied 23 points, owning a two-point edge on eighth ranked Willamette University. Reigning Champion Whitworth University was picked to repeat as champion with 63 points and seven of the nine first place votes. Second ranked Pacific University and third ranked University of Puget Sound both earned a first place vote.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
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PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu