Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University softball squad welcomes third-ranked Linfield University to PLU Field in a battle for first place in the Northwest Conference standings.
Series History: The heated rivals have met 167 times on the diamond since the 1981 season with Linfield holding a slim 88-79 advantage in the series. The two squads met five times last spring with the Wildcats sweeping the regular season series before also taking down the Lutes in the opening game of the 2025 NWC Tournament.
About the Lutes: The Lutes (25-7, 17-3 NWC) are on fire, winning six in a row and sit tied for first place with third-ranked Linfield University heading into the final two weekends of the regular season. Pacific Lutheran dominated Willamette University last week, earning a four game sweep with wins by scores of 10-1, 6-2, 9-1, and 11-3. Fueling the wins was Paola Garcia and Paige Wilson who swept the NWC awards on Monday with Garcia earning NWC Hitter of the Week and Wilson landing NWC Pitcher of the Week. Garcia had a .571 batting average and a 1.571 slugging percentage for the series with 12 RBIs. That included four home runs and two grand slams. Wilson was equally as dominant, winning the award for the second straight week. The junior allowed just seven hits in a pair of complete game wins, limiting opposing hitters to a .184 batting average.
Paola Garcia is PLU's leading hitter with a .474 batting average and having cranked out 11 home runs, 19 extra base hits, and 52 RBIs. Kaya Collado rocks a .406 batting average with 20 RBIs and 28 runs scored while Ashlyn Sera and Kamalani Doctor are hitting .327 and .321, respectively.
Inside the circle, Paige Wilson and Maiya Anderson have been a one-two punch with both having won NWC Pitcher of the Week honors this spring. Wilson is the workhorse, racking up 92 2/3 innings with 94 strikeouts and a 14-1 record, tossing 12 complete games. Anderson has tossed 62 2/3 innings with 46 punchouts. Both aces have an identical 2.57 earned run average heading into the weekend series.
Home Sweet Home: The Lutes have been a tough squad to play at PLU Field this spring, owning a 10-2 record inside the friendly confines, winning their last eight games on home turf.
Tough Schedule: Third-ranked Linfield comes to town this weekend, meaning the Lutes will have played the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 ranked teams in Trine University, Linfield, and Saint Mary’s University. PLU has also played 22nd-ranked Chapman and holds a 1-3 record against nationally-ranked opponents. This will be the first time the Lutes get a chance to play a Top 25 at home.
About the Wildcats: Reigning NWC Champion Linfield (29-3, 17-3 NWC) heads to Tacoma ranked third in the nation and has won 23 of its last 24 games.
Last weekend, Linfield hosted third place Lewis & Clark College winning three of the four games of the series. The visiting River Otters snapped the Wildcats' 20 game win streak with a marathon 5-3 13-inning victory but Linfield roared back, taking game two of the doubleheader 13-3. Linfield prevailed 14-5 to open day two before finishing off the River Otters with a walkoff 5-4 victory. That game saw the Cats trail 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning before getting a two-run shot by Ashlyn Aven to tie the game and a Cydney Hess solo shot for the walkoff win.
Meara Sain is the Wildcats' top hitter, sporting a .477 average with 20 doubles and 49 RBIs. Breanna Bartel is a .425 hitter with a team-high 46 runs scored while Ashlyn Aven brings the power, owning a 1.020 slugging percentage with 60 RBIs and 16 home runs.
Tyler McNeley is the Wildcat ace inside the circle with a 1.97 earned run average with 99 punchouts in 106 2/3 innings of work. Destiny Cornwell owns a 12-2 record in 17 appearances with 52 strikeouts in 95 innings of action.
Thank You Seniors!
This year's senior class has been unstoppable on the diamond, qualifying for the NWC Tournament in each of the last three seasons. Heading into the weekend, the 2026 senior class has won 103 games over the past four seasons, including owning a 70-34 record in Northwest Conference play and an impressive 41-15 record at PLU Field.
Hail to the champs!
This weekend, the Lutes will be inducting two members of the 2012 National Championship winning team — Stacey Hagensen & Kaaren Hatlen — into the PLU Athletics Hall of Fame.
NWC Preseason Poll
The Lutes look to return to the NWC Tournament for the fifth consecutive season after being picked fourth in the annual preseason coaches' poll. Defending Champion Linfield University sits atop the rankings with 47 points and five first place votes while Lewis & Clark College sits second with 45 points and the remaining three first place endorsements. George Fox University is third with 36 points while the Lutes check in as the top Washington school in fourth place with 30 points.
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.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Series:
Apr. 25 at Whitworth (DH) at 12 p.m.
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