POLK COUNTY, FLA. – The sunshine treated the Luther College softball team well in its first nonconference doubleheader in Florida. The Norse improved to 9-1 overall with two dominant wins in Polk County, Orlando, downing St. Lawrence University 9-1 in its Spring Break opener. Luther then took care of business in game two, using timely hitting and superb pitching to defeat the College of Wooster 4-0 in game two.
GAME ONE: LUTHER (9) vs. ST. LAWRENCE (1) - 5 INNINGS
Belle Berg (Chatfield, Minn. / Chatfield) kicked things off for Luther in a big way against St. Lawrence, as her leadoff home run gave the team an early 1-0 lead just three pitches into the game. The Norse looked to add even more runs in the inning, as back-to-back walks by Abby Spore (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Kennedy) and Sydney Schultz (Raymond, Iowa / Columbus Catholic) put runners on first and second with just one out. They ended up being stranded at those bases, as a line out and fly out ended Luther's threat.
It was actually the Saints that would score the next run of the inning, as the visitors tied things in the top of the third to make it 1-1. The Norse answered by regaining their lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on two hits and a St. Lawrence error for a 4-1 advantage. That wasn't the end of Luther's scoring barrage either. The Norse would walk off the game in 9-1 fashion thanks to an explosive five-running fifth inning. After a scoreless fourth, Spore doubled to left field to open the fifth inning, setting the tone for Luther's offense for the remainder of the game. She would then score on Schultz first homer of the 2023 season, extending the Norse lead to 6-1 with zero outs on the board. A walk and two singles later, the bases were loaded for pinch hitter Jerraine Dannenmueller (Osceolo, Wis. / Osceola), who laced a single to right field to score Riley Sauser (Ely, Iowa / Cedar Rapids Prairie) and Leah Crown (Plato, Minn. / Central) to bump Luther's lead to 7-1.
With a 7-1 lead and one out on the board, the Norse needed just two runs to end the game early. They didn't have to wait long. Berg stepped to the plate and ended the game in succinct fashion, blasting a walk off double to score two runs and secure the 9-1 victory for Luther.
GAME TWO: LUTHER (4) vs. WOOSTER (0)
It was a scoreless affair between the Norse and the Fighting Scots, as neither team could solve the other's ace. Fifth year Kendra Cooper (Lansing, Iowa / Kee) was exceptional in the circle for Luther, allowing just one Wooster player to reach base in the first four innings of play, mowing down the Fighting Scots in quick succession. Her teammates, meanwhile, went to work against Lynnsey Delio. Though Delio held the Norse bats at bay through the first three innings, she was unable to contain them for long, as Luther finally broke through the 0-0 tie in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back singles from Schultz and Sauser put runners on second and third with no outs for Crown. The senior hit a hard grounder to the second baseman, easily scoring Schultz from third to put the Norse ahead 1-0.
One batter later, Luther went up 2-0, as Chloe Wagner (Blair, Wis. / Blair-Taylor) scored on a fielder's choice by Katie Brennan (Lansing, Iowa / Kee) to extend the lead. Cooper, then, sent the Fighting Scots down in order the very next inning, preserving the 2-0 lead before the Norse added two insurance runs in the top of the fifth. This time, it was Schultz who delivered the RBI hit, as her single to center scored both Teagan Hansen (Plainview, Minn. / Plainview-Elgin-Millville) and Ken Vavricheck (Bloomington, Minn. / The Blake School) for a 4-0 Luther lead after five.
A one run lead would have been enough for Cooper, who handled Wooster's line up with ease in both the sixth and seventh inning. Though the Fighting Scots managed to reach base on defensive errors by the Norse, it was no harm, no foul for the fifth year senior, who did not allow a runner to reach second base. In fact, when Wooster managed to put a runner on first with two outs in the seventh, Cooper got the very next batter to pop out to the shortstop, securing the 4-0 victory for Luther.
TOP NORSE
- Belle Berg (Chatfield, Minn. / Chatfield) was the top statistical hitter for the Norse in their game one win over St. Lawrence. The senior shortstop was 2-3 at the plate with two runs, a home run, a double, and three RBI. Riley Sauser (Ely, Iowa / Cedar Rapids Prairie) went 2-3 with one run and an RBI as well, while Sydney Schultz (Raymond, Iowa / Columbus Catholic) was 1-2 with three RBI.
- Sam Thompson (West Salem, Wis. / West Salem) improved to 3-1 in the circle this season, pitching five complete innings in Luther's 9-1 win over St. Lawrence. The senior surrendered just one run on six hits while tallying four strikeouts in the victory.
- Kendra Cooper (Lansing, Iowa / Kee) improved to 5-0 on the season, pitching yet another complete game shutout in her first appearance in Florida. The fifth year senior went the distance, holding Wooster to just four hits in seven innings of work, and tallied seven strikeouts.
- Schultz was the only Luther player to tally multiple hits against the Fighting Scots, going 2-3 at the plate with one run and two RBI.
UP NEXT
The Norse busy schedule continues on Sunday, as they are set to play Hamilton College and Trinity (Conn.) College at The Spring Games in Polk County, Florida. First pitch against Hamilton is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. CT, while game two against Trinity will begin at roughly 10:30 a.m. CT.
