The PNW baseball team started their Spring 2017 season on March 4 with a 4-20 loss against Concordia University and a 3-0 victory against Viterbo University.

The team held a 2-0 record during the Fall 2016 season.

Dave Griffin, men’s baseball head coach, said the team wants to accomplish two things this season.

“Number one, we want to win 30 games this year,” Griffin said. “Number two, we want to finish in the top two in the conference and make the regional tournament.”

This is the first season PUC and PNC baseball teams will come together as one team. The PUC baseball team finished the 2015-16 season with an overall record of 19-22. The PNC baseball team finished the 2015-16 season with an overall record of 8-43-13.

Shane Prance, assistant coach, said the team has spent the last five months preparing as a unified team.

“It’s kind of funny because we had two groups of guys coming together and we weren’t sure how they would mesh,” Prance said. “The two teams first hit the field with one another this past fall and have constantly made strides at getting better, not only for themselves, but for the team.”

The baseball team is led by eight returning seniors and welcomes nine new freshmen to the team for the 2016-17 season.

Larry Crisler, sophomore outfielder, said he is focused on doing his part to help the team.

“I’ve just been working on hitting high averages, getting on base for my team and pitch selections have been a big thing,” Crisler said.

Jimmy Skiff, junior pitcher, said that he is focused on tuning his skills and hopes to make an impact this season.

“I’m working on pitch locations and controlling the running game. I have to learn to mix and match speeds and locations,” Skiff said.