Norse Sweep spartans - clinch share of IIAC championship
May 2, 2009
Luther clinched a share of the Iowa Conference championship by defeating the University of Dubuque twice this afternoon here in Decorah. The Norse swept the three-game series after posting a 7-0 victory in game one and 9-1 in the nightcap.
The Norse needed some help from Cornell College and got it when the Rams scored 10 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one of the scheduled double header in Mount Vernon, posting a 18-17 come-from-behind victory over Loras College. Loras won game two of the double header 10-4 and will be the #1 seed for the IIAC Tournament. Luther will be the #2 seed.
Luther blew open game one scoring six runs on four hits in the sixth inning. Chris Reynolds, who was 2-for-4, hit a grand slam home run in this frame. Lead-off hitter Nate Neis was 2-for-3 with an rbi and scored twice. Mark Weber and Steve Beckman produced two hits each.
Adam Kohls (7-3) went the distance throwing a four-hit shutout, his first shutout of the season.
In game two, the Norse tallied nine runs on 12 hits securing the nightcap victory. Zack Topping was 3-for-3 with three rbi. Reynolds also tallied three hits, while Neis was credited with two. Jake Waddle was 1-for-3 and drove in two runs.
Max Flaig (3-2) picked up the complete game victory. Flaig allowed one run on six hits, walked one and struck out four.
The two wins gives the Norse an Iowa Conference record of 15-7, 27-11 overall. The Iowa Conference Tournament will take place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa May 7-9. The tournament will be played at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium, home of the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
