Luther Sweeps Defending National Champions UW-Eau Claire
April 13, 2009
Luther traveled to defending national champions UW-Eau Claire this afternoon for a non-conference double header between nationally ranked teams. The Norse entered today's action ranked 13th in the country, while the Blugolds were in the top-10 at #7. The Norse pounded out 22 hits and committed just two errors, sweeping the Blugolds 8-3 (8), and 9-1 (6). The two wins increased Luther's win streak to 11 in a row. The Norse are now 24-2 and off to their best start since 2007. Eau Claire fell to 20-7.
Luther scored seven runs in the final two innings to post an 8-3 come-from-behind victory in game one. The Norse tallied two runs in the top of the seventh tying the score at 3-3 and sending the game into the extra frame. In the eighth, the Norse scored five runs on four hits to secure the victory.
Anna Simonson had a huge game going 2-for-4 in the lead-off slot, driving in a run in the seventh and two in the eighth. Kim Hess also drove in a run in the seventh and eighth and was 2-for-5. With her infield base hit in the seventh, Hess became the all-time leader for career hits with a total of 177, passing Erin Michael '07 who tallied 176 during her four-year career. Tiffany Kruse also drove in two runs with a single to center field in the eighth.
BreAnn VanDeer went the distance in the circle. VanDeer spread 10 hits allowing three earned runs, walking three and striking out nine. She is now 12-1 with an era of 1.52.
The Norse scored in every inning in the nightcap including two in the first and three in the sixth. Simonson, Lauran Snyder and Jackie Miller were all 2-for-4. Abby Christian and Danielle Armbruster both drove in two runs each. Christian hit a two-run single up the middle in the first, while Armbruster singled to right center driving in two runs in the sixth. Snyder hit her first collegiate home run, a lead-off solo shot in the second.
Kim Lambert was brilliant in the circle. Lambert allowed just two hits and struck out 10 of the 26 batters she faced. She is now 7-1 with an era of 1.58.
Luther (7-1) returns to Iowa Conference action this Wednesday, April 15 when it will host Coe College (6-2, 24-8). This double header will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will be video streamed at http://sports.luther.edu/video.
