The Missionaries Drop a 1 - 0 Decision to PLU in Series Finale

WALLA WALLA, WA – Pacific Lutheran defeated the Missionaries 1-0 in the final game of the teams’ three-game set at Borleske Stadium this afternoon, thanks in part to a three-hit complete game shutout by Lutes’ starting pitcher, Trevor Lubking (4-0). Missionaries starting pitcher Justin Weeks (Sr., Palos Verdes, CA) kept pace with Lubking all day except for a balk in the third inning that walked in a run and proved to be the difference maker in tight game.

In the top of the third, second baseman Nicholas Hall’s single to centerfield was followed by a well-placed bunt by right fielder Alec Beal. Weeks fielded the ball cleanly just in front of the mound, but threw an errant throw to first base, allowing Hall to take 3^rd base. After retiring the next two batters, Weeks walked catcher Curtis Wildung to load the bases.

With no place to put anyone, Weeks balked and the game’s only run walked across home plate. Weeks avoided any further damage in the inning by striking out shortstop Clay Trushinsky shortly thereafter.

Whitman’s best chance of putting any runs on the board came in the fourth when Kyle Buckham (Jr., Bellingham, WA) put a good enough bunt down to beat the throw and give Whitman their first hit of the game. Peter Carmichael (So., Bellingham, WA) followed Buckham with a bunt of his own that Lubking tried to go to second base with but ended up throwing it high, pulling the shortstop off the bag and allowing Buckham to just beat the throw.

With runners on first and second and no outs, Lubkin dug in and retired the next three Whitman batters to escape the rally and maintain the shutout.

Besides the single by Buckham in the fourth, a Maclean Harned (So., Seattle, WA) line drive single to right in the fifth, and a Jonny Chow (So, Keaau, HI)chopper single in the sixth, the Missionaries were stymied by Lubking.

Weeks pitched eight and two thirds innings and allowed seven hits, struck out three, and did not give up an earned run in taking the hard-luck loss (3-2).

Whitman drops to 7-9 and (2-4 NWC).The Lutes are now 11-5 overall and 4-2 in conference.

The Whits are back in action next weekend when they travel to McMinnville, Oregon to take on Linfield College on March 16, 17. The games for Saturday’s doubleheader are scheduled for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, and the series finale on Sunday, is a noon start.

Box Score

Peter Clark contributed this story

Contact:

Andrew Holt

Whitman Sports Information Director

holtac@whitman.edu

509.527.5902