Luther Sweeps Central in Home Opener - Move to 3-0 in the IIAC
March 31, 2009
Luther moved into a tie atop the Iowa Conference standings this afternoon with Buena Vista University after sweeping Central College 6-3, 3-1 here in Decorah. The Norse are now 3-0 in the IIAC, 11-4 overall. Central fell to 3-3 in league play, 8-10 overall.
In game one, the Norse scored four runs in the bottom of the second and added two in the fifth en route to the victory. Steve Beckman was 3-for-3 and drove in two runs with an rbi single to right field in the fifth. Joe Thompson and Zach Topping also tallied two hits.
Adam Kohls posted his third win of the season allowing one earned run in 5 1/3 innings of work. Kohls spread seven hits, walked three and struck out six. Nate Todd took over in the sixth and got the Norse out of a jam and was credited with his first save of the year.
In game two, Luther jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first, thanks to a sacrifice fly to left field by Mark Webber that scored Nate Neis who started the frame getting hit by a pitch. Webber tallied two of Luther's four hits going 2-for-2 at the plate.
The Norse played a little small ball in the fourth and fifth innings and manufactured what proved to be the game winning runs. Neis drove in a run in the fourth as did Chris Reynolds in the fifth. Both rbi were sacrifice fly balls to right field.
Cody Hyland went the distance on the mound striking out seven. He allowed one earned run on four hits. He also pitched out of a jam in the seventh, when the Dutch loaded the bases with two outs. Hyland is now 3-0.
Luther will return to action this Friday and Saturday when they will play a three-game series at Wartburg College. Friday's nine inning game will begin at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday the double header will begin at 1:00 p.m.
