Luther Sweeps Simpson - Takes Over First Place in Iowa Conference Standings
April 8, 2009
Luther, ranked #13 in the NCAA III, took over first place in the Iowa Conference standings after sweeping Simpson College 7-4 (9) and 8-3 this afternoon here in Decorah. The Norse are alone in first with a league record of 5-1, 20-2 overall. Simpson fell to 2-4 in league play, 21-11 overall.
In game one, Danielle Armbruster hit a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Danielle's blast was her first of the season and cleared the right field fence by a good 20 yards. Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Norse tied the game with three runs on three hits and also received a little help from the Storm who committed two errors in the inning.
BreAnn Van Deer was credited with the win, her tenth of the year against one loss. VanDeer pitched eight innings, allowed three earned runs on four hits, walked six and struck out five.
Multiple rbi's by Kelsey Hake, Abby Christian and Jackie Miller propelled the Norse to victory in the nightcap. Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, Luther exploded for six runs on four hits and were never challenged the rest of the game. Armbruster was 3-for-3 and drove in her fourth run of the afternoon. Anna Simonson and Kim Hess also produced multiple hit outings going 2-for-3 and 2-for-4 respectively.
For the afternoon, Hess tallied four hits and is now one shy of tying the career school record. She will enter the Cornell double header this weekend with a career total of 175. Erin Michael '07 holds the record with 176.
Kim Lambert went the distance in the circle. Lambert spread nine hits, walked four and struck out 12. Her career total for strike outs in now 212, that moves her into the fourth position all-time for this category. Lambert's win was her fifth of the season.
Luther will resume Iowa Conference action this Saturday when they will travel to Cornell College. This double header will begin at 2:00 p.m.
