POLK COUNTY, FLA. – The state of Florida isn't the only thing that's hot right now. The Luther College softball team is on fire after another non conference sweep in the Sunshine State. The Norse earned two more victories on their spring break trip to Florida, outscoring their opponents 15-1 in 12 innings of work. Luther opened the day with a 10-1, five inning win over Buffalo State before defeating Washington and Jefferson College 5-0 in its Tuesday nightcap. With the wins, the Norse are now 14-2 overall and continue to receive votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll.
GAME ONE: LUTHER (10) vs. BUFFALO STATE (1) - 5 INNINGS
To say the Norse were hot in their opening game of the day might be a gross understatement. Luther wasted no time taking a 2-0 lead against the Bengals, scoring two runs on three hits and an RBI hit by pitch. After loading the bases on two singles and a walk, Chloe Wagner (Blair, Wis. / Blair-Taylor) took a rise ball to the elbow, allowing Sydney Schultz (Raymond, Iowa / Columbus Catholic) to score easily from third base for a 1-0 lead. Raven Allen's (Birmingham, Ala. / McAdroy) RBI single then made it 2-0 Luther and set the tone for what would be a dominant performance by the Norse.
After a two-run first inning, Luther went on to score four runs in the second, extending its lead to 6-0 after one and a half innings of play. This time, it was Abby Spore (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Kennedy) and Sauser who delivered the RBI hits, and Leah Crown (Plato, Minn. / Central) scored on a throwing error by the shortstop, further extending the Norse rally. Buffalo State eventually got out of the inning on a fielder's choice, but Luther wasn't done scoring. After a quiet third, the Norse went ahead 8-0 in the fourth thanks to RBI hits from Wagner and Anna Forari (Bettendorf, Iowa / Bettendorf) before taking a 10-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
The Bengals managed to score one in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough to extend the game further as Izzy Staton (Urbandale, Iowa / Urbandale) shut down all hopes of a rally with a fly out and ground out, securing the 10-1 inning.
GAME TWO: LUTHER (5) vs. WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON (0)
It took the Norse an extra inning to figure things out the Presidents' starting pitcher Jordan Hinz, but once they did, there was no turning back. Luther once again nabbed an early game against its opponent, jumping ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Crown scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch, while Brennan brought home Wagner with an RBI single to make it 2-0 Norse after two.
Luther added an extra run in the third, as Crown doubled to left center, allowing Teagan Hansen (Plainview, Minn. / Plainview-Elgin-Millville) to score easily and extend the Norse lead to 3-0. However, Luther wasn't satisfied with a three run lead. The team tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, as hits from Berg, Schultz and Spore put Luther ahead 5-0 after four. That lead was good enough for Sam Thompson (West Salem, Wis. / West Salem) and Co. The senior earned her fifth win of the 2023 season, as she allowed just four base runners in five flawless innings of work. Olivia Engler (Atlantic, Iowa / Atlantic) and Kenedy Sandoval (Aurora, Colo. / Smoky Hills) also appeared in the circle Tuesday afternoon, pitching two perfect innings of relief to secure the 5-0 shutout.
TOP NORSE
- Sydney Schultz (Raymond, Iowa / Columbus Catholic), Abby Spore (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Kennedy) and Chloe Wagner (Blair, Wis. / Blair-Taylor) all put together multi-hit games against Buffalo State. Wagner led all hits with a 2-2 day, scoring one run and tallying a career-high four RBI. Schultz went 3-4 and scored three runs and Spore was 2-4 with an RBI.
- Kendra Cooper (Lansing, Iowa / Kee) picked up her eighth win of the season, pitching four shutout innings with six strikeouts. Izzy Staton (Urbandale, Iowa / Urbandale) made her first appearance on the mound for the Norse, surrendering one run on three hits in her single inning of work.
- Spore closed her day with a 3-4 performance against the Presidents, tallying one RBI while guiding Luther's pitching staff to another shutout victory. Belle Berg (Chatfield, Minn. / Chatfield) went 2-4 at the plate against Washington and Jefferson, while Leah Crown (Plato, Minn. / Central) was 2-3 with a run and RBI.
UP NEXT
Luther earned its off day Wednesday but will return to action Thursday for more spring break action. The Norse will take on Elmhurst University at 8:00 a.m. CT in Polk County, Florida and will face a familiar opponent, Gustavus Adolphus College, later that day. First pitch against the Gusties is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT.
