Waddle hits game winning home run - luther splits with buena vista
April 21, 2009
Luther traveled to Storm Lake, Iowa for a double header against Buena Vista University. The Norse split the first two games of this three-game series losing game 6-5 in eight innings and winning the nightcap 2-1. The third and final game will be played in Decorah on April 29 at 3:00 p.m.
Luther jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game one, scoring two runs in the first and one in the second. Buena Vista responded scoring three runs with two outs in the second. The Beavers added a run in the fourth and fifth innings before Luther tied the ball game 5-5 with two runs in the fifth. Buena Vista won the game in the eighth when Brandon Pietrzyk drove in Mark Blum with a double to left center field. Blum reached base on an error.
Luther managed just five hits, while Buena Vista produced 15. Zack Topping led the Norse with a 2-for-3 performance driving in both runs in the first with a single. Chris Reynolds, Ben Schott and Mark Weber were also credited with an rbi.
Nate Todd (4-3) was pegged for the loss. Todd went the distance, allowed five earned runs and struck out six.
Jake Waddle hit a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the seventh securing the come-from-behind victory. Waddle's home run was his first of the year and it could not have come at a better time. Adam Kohls (5-3) won a classic pitchers duel throwing a five-hit complete game. Kohls faced 30 batters, walked one and struck out eight.
The split gives Luther an Iowa Conference record of 9-6, 21-10 overall. Buena Vista is now 11-5 in league play, 24-7 overall. Both teams are still very much in the hunt to capture the league title.
The Norse will host Coe College this weekend for a three-game series that will begin Friday afternoon. The two teams will play one nine inning game starting at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Saturday, the seven inning double header will begin at 1:00 p.m. Friday's game will be video streamed at http://sports.luther.edu/video.
