Luther Sweeps Grinnell - Win Steak at 11
April 20, 2008
It only took 10 innings for the Norse to secure a sweep of the Pioneers of Grinnell College this afternoon in Grinnell. Luther recorded an 8-0 victory in game one and won game two by a score of 11-0.
Game one saw the Norse produced their eight runs on 12 hits, scoring five runs in the first and three in the second. Ashley Hoffmann, Danielle Armbruster and Jackie Miller were all credited with two rbi.
Shallyn Duffy (9-3) allowed just one hit, struck out one and did not allow a walk en route to the win.
A three-run third and a four-run fourth blew game two wide open. Luther's 11 runs were the result of 10 hits and five Grinnell errors.
Kayla Denner drove in three runs, while Tami Magner and Armbruster both drove in two. Tiffany Kruse hit solo shot to left field in the third, her seventh of the season.
Kim Hess also made a bit of school history, setting the single season record for stolen bases with her 20th of the year. Hess broke the old mark of 19 held by Holly Wendt set in 2000.
Despite all of the Norse hits, the story of the game was the pitching of Norse starter Kim Lambert. Lambert faced 16 batters and struck out 11. She gave up just one hit and did not allow a walk, as she tallied her ninth win of the season against two losses.
Luther also set two team records this afternoon. The two shutouts tied the school record for shutouts in a single season with 15 that was established in 2006. The Norse also broke the single season record for stolen bases with 54. The old mark was 52 in 1990.
The two wins increased Luther's win streak to 11 in a row. The Norse are now 26-7 overall, while Grinnell fell to 6-16.
Four games remain on the regular season schedule beginning with a double header at league leading Wartburg College on Tuesday, April 22.
Nationally ranked #6 Wartburg split with #23 Coe this afternoon in Cedar Rapids. The Knights will enter Tuesday's showdown with a league record of 11-1. Luther, which secured a play-off spot for the Iowa Conference Tournament this afternoon without playing a league contest, is in third place with a mark of 9-3. Tuesday's double header will be broadcast by webcast only by KWLC 1240 starting at 3:00 p.m.
