Norse Split with #25 Kohawks in Conference Opener for Both Clubs
March 29, 2008
The defending Iowa Conference champions kicked-off the 2008 Iowa Conference schedule at Coe College in Cedar Rapids this afternoon. The Kohawks entered the double header ranked 25th in the nation.
In game one, the Norse lost a hard fought eight inning decision by a score of 2-1. The Kohawks scored the winning unearned run in the bottom of the eighth on a pair of bunts coupled with a Norse error.
Trailing 1-0 after three, Tami Magner tied the game for the Norse with her ninth home run of the season, over the center field fence.
In the night cap, the Norse exploded for 11 runs on 13 hits, defeating the Kohawks 11-3 in six innings. The Norse scored six runs on six hits in the top half of the third. The Norse added a run in the fourth and four in the sixth en route to the victory.
Tiffany Kruse led the offensive attack with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate and drove in six RBI. Three of her RBI came in the sixth inning with a three-run home run to right center field. Magner was 3-for-4 and scored three times. She also belted her 10th home run of the season, a solo shot over the right field fence in the sixth.
Kim Lambert (4-2) pitched the final four innings and was credited with the win. She struckout eight, walked three and allowed just two hits, lowering her ERA to 0.72. BreAnn VanDeer pitched the first two innings, allowing three runs in two innings of work, striking out one and walking one.
The split with the Kohawks gives Luther an overall record of 13-5, 1-1 in the Iowa Conference. Coe moved to 15-7, 1-1 in the IIAC.
The Norse will continue league play on Wednesday, April 2, when they will host Cornell College. This double header will begin at 3:00 p.m.
