Tucson Invitational Recaps - March 21-26
March 21
Game One - The Norse scored eight runs on nine hits as they defeated Amherst College 8-0 in five innings in the first game of the 10-game Tuscon Invitational. Tami Magner had a team high four RBI, three that came thanks to a three-run home run over the left field fence in the third. Tiffany Kruse drove in two runs with a double to right-center in the fifth. BreAnn VanDeer was credited with the win allowing three hits and striking out seven.
Game Two - #18 UW-Stevens Point scored two unearned runs en route to a 6-5 victory. The fifth inning was huge for both teams. The Pointers scored three runs on four hits in the top-half of the inning and led 6-1. Luther came up one run shy of tying the score, following four runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. Anna Simonson and Kim Hess were both 3-for-4. Ashley Hoffman was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Shallyn Duffy was credited with the loss, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out six.
March 22
Game One - Luther made quick work of Taylor University, posting an 8-0 victory in five innings. A five-run second proved to be the difference in this contest. Tami Magner was 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Kelsey Hake was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Kim Hess also produced two hits from the lead-off slot in the batting line-up. Shallyn Duffy spread five hits over four innings en route to the victory.
Game Two - The Norse raised their overall record to 7-3 following an impressive 10-0 victory in five innings over the University of Chicago. BreAnn VanDeer threw the three-hit shutout while facing just 16 batters. The Norse scored four runs in both the second and fourth innings and two in the third. Tami Magner belted a three-run home run in the fourth. Tiffany Kruse was 2-for-2 with two RBI and scored twice. Designated player Jackie Miller also scored twice. Kim Hess continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-3 with one RBI.
March 23 - Off for Easter Sunday
March 24
Game One - Kim Lambert threw a three-hit shut out en route to her second victory of the season as Luther defeated the University of Chicago 8-0 in five innings. Lambert faced 21 batters, striking out six and walking one.
Luther scored its eight runs on 10 hits, producing four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Tami Magner started things off in the fourth with a solo shot over the right-center field fence. The home run was her seventh of the season and 30th of her career. Three batters later, Tiffany Kruse hit a three-run home run to almost straight away center, her third home run of the year.
In the final frame, the Norse scored four runs on three hits and Chicago helped by committing three errors. Jackie Miller drove in two runs and Kelsey Hake drove in one.
Game Two - The combination of nine Luther hits, plus seven Lawrence errors, helped the Norse to an 11-2 victory in six innings. The Norse did the majority of their damage in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, producing 10 of their 11 runs. Magner and Ashley Hoffman were both credited with two RBI.
March 25
Game One - Gustavus Adolphus defeated the Norse 3-2 and scored all of its runs in the first inning. The Gusties clean-up batter Emily Klein, kit a two-run double to center field, followed by a Luther error, allowed the Gusties to score what proved to be the game winning runs.
Luther scored twice in the bottom of the fifth after Kim Hess and Anna Simonson each drove in a run with singles up the middle.
Game Two - Tami Magner hit her eighth home run of the season to straight-away center field, give the Norse an early 3-0 lead en route to the five inning 8-0 victory over Kalamazoo. Magner added two more RBI in the second frame with a double to deep center field. She finished the game 2-for-2, scored twice and tallied five RBI. Kim Hess (2-3) and Kelsey Hake (2-2) also produced multiple hits.
Shallyn Duffy (4-2) was credited with the win. She allowed just one hit, struck out two and walked one in four innings of work.
March 26
Game One - Luther started its final day of competition at the Tucson Invitational Games with an 8-0 victory over St. Joseph's College (NY). Shallyn Duffy raised her record to 5-2 striking out 11 of the 17 batters she faced.
The Norse scored twice in the second inning, three times in both the third and fourth innings and once in the fifth. Designated player Jackie Miller drove in three runs with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Danielle Armbruster and Tami Magner also had two hits.
Game Two - The Norse increased their overall record to 12-4 following an 8-0 five inning victory over Lawrence. Kim Lambert (3-1) faced just 17 batters, striking out 12. Lambert struck out the side in the first and third innings.
Anna Simonson drove in three runs including the game winner in the bottom of the fifth. Simonson was 2-for-4. Kim Hess also drove in two runs and scored three times.
The Norse will begin the Iowa Conference schedule at Coe College on Saturday, March 29. This twin bill will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Cedar Rapids.
