For the second weekend in a row Luther traveled to Topeka, Kansas and the Bettis Sports Complex to play two double headers. The Norse opened the weekend with a twin bill against Gustavus Adolphus College and swept the Gusties 10-9 and 18-12. Game one was schedule for seven innings and game two was scheduled for nine innings.
In game one, Gustavus posted six runs in the top of the fifth and held a 8-5 lead. The Norse responded with five runs in the bottom half of the same frame that proved to be the difference in the game.
Collin Chalmers tossed the final two innings for the Norse en route to the save.
Carter Bratland was credited with the win.
In the fifth,
Mark Prince and
Gavin Scurr hit back-to-back homeruns. Prince hit the second pitch he faced over the right-center field fence with the sacks loaded for a grand slam. Scurr followed with a solo shot to left field. Prince, Scurr,
Cullen Stamp and
Joshua Matanich all had two hits. Prince finished with five RBI, while Stamp was credited with two and Matanich, Scurr and Noah Seben all had one.
In game two, the Gusties and Norse combined for 30 runs on 34 hits. The Norse scored seven in the first, three in the third, one in both the fourth and fifth frames, four in the sixth and two in the top of the ninth. The Gusties scored three in both the first and third innings, five in the fifth and one in the eighth.
In the first,
Luke Plunkett and
Cullen Stamp both hit three-run home runs. Plunkett finished 3-for-6 with four RBI.
Gavin Scurr (4-for-6) and Stamp (1-for-3) both drove in three runs.
Charlie Rubendall (3-for-4) and
Joe Jersak (2-for-5) were credited with two rbi, while
Peyton Lindmark (2-for-4) and
Noah Sebben (1-for-5) had one rbi each.
Calvin Brinda was credited with the win after taking over for
Ryan Manternach in the bottom of the fifth. Brinda threw five innings, allowed three runs on eight hits. Only one run was earned.
The sweep gives Luther an overall record of 4-0. Tomorrow the Norse will face Carthage College for a twinbill that is scheduled to begin at Noon.
