TACOMA, Washington – First place in the Northwest Conference standings is on the line when the Puget Sound baseball team takes on Pacific Lutheran, March 19-20, in Parkland, Washington.
 
Around the NWC
Puget Sound and Pacific are tied for first place in the NWC, both holding a 7-5 conference record. Pacific Lutheran, George Fox, and Linfield are each 5-4. Willamette is 6-6 in NWC games.
 
Setting the table
Kyle Strash and Shane Himeda have been extremely difficult for opposing pitchers to figure out. Strash enters this weekend with a .359 batting average and a .544 on-base percentage, while Himeda is hitting .349 with a .500 on-base percentage.
 
Jackson's thriller
Jackson Bolitho hit his first-career home run against George Fox last Sunday (March 13). His solo shot in the third inning gave the Loggers a 3-1 lead, and Puget Sound held on for a 5-3 victory.
 
Locking in wins
Puget Sound's bullpen has been a huge factor in sealing the Loggers' seven conference wins so far this season. In those victories, the bullpen has a 2.60 ERA and 35 strikeouts through 27.2 innings. Tyler Beckley (19.2 IP) and Dylan Joyce (11.0 IP) have pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this year. Combined, they have four saves, two wins, and a 1.76 ERA.
 
He has the jump
Makana Murashige is a perfect 7-for-7 in his stolen base attempts this season. He is hitting .308 this season and has a couple of home runs to his name.
 
Scouting Pacific Lutheran (12-6, 5-4 NWC)
The Lutes enter this weekend with three wins in their last four games. Two of those victories came against No. 20 Cal Lutheran. Andy Schmitz leads the team in hitting with a .370 batting average, and Cole Trotignon has a team-high four home runs. As a team, the Lutes are hitting .298. On the mound, Tommy Snyder has a 2.27 ERA through six starts, and the PLU pitching staff has a 3.67 ERA. The Lutes beat the Loggers, 10-3, in a non-conference game earlier this season (Feb. 11).