Luther defeated Salem State 8-2 in the first elimination game of the Whitewater Regional. The Norse stay alive and will face Texas Lutheran in an elimination game tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.

Trailing the Vikings 2-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Norse scored twice in both the fifth and sixth innings and added four more in the eighth to secure the victory.

Calvin Brinda, who had made 12 appearances and pitched 22 innings, all in relief during the regular season, got the start on the mound. He threw a complete game victory improving to 3-0. He faced 32 batters, allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out five. Salem State's two runs came on a two-run home run in the fourth.

Cullen Stamp and Owen Vander Linden led the Norse attack driving in three runs each. Vander Linden drove in the go-ahead runs in the sixth with a one out single up the middle that scored Joe McKibben and Kyle Schnobrich. He singled to left field in the eighth that scored McKibben for a second time. In this same frame, Stamp drove in two runs with a single to center field. His first rbi came on a fielders choice bunt that scored Noah Sebben from third, who led-off the inning with a double to left field.

The win gives Luther an overall record of 32-15. Salem State ends it season with a mark of 13-10.