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bergscrimmage
Kylie Macziewski
Belle Berg went 4-6 at the plate against #25 Coe, accounting for roughly 50% of Luther's offense.
2
Luther College LCSB 24-5, 5-2 A-R-C
3
Winner Coe College COE 27-4, 10-1 A-R-C
Luther College LCSB
24-5, 5-2 A-R-C
2
Final
3
Coe College COE
27-4, 10-1 A-R-C
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Luther College LCSB 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 2
Coe College COE 0 1 1 0 1 0 X 3 7 1

W: E. Thurow (9-1) L: Cooper, Kendra (13-3)

0
Luther College LCSB 24-6, 5-3 A-R-C
8
Winner Coe College COE 28-4, 11-1 A-R-C
Luther College LCSB
24-6, 5-3 A-R-C
0
Final
8
Coe College COE
28-4, 11-1 A-R-C
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Luther College LCSB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
Coe College COE 0 0 2 2 2 2 8 15 0

W: H. Ausenhus (10-2) L: Engler, Olivia (4-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball drops two at #25 Coe

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA  – The Luther College softball team is used to playing in big games, especially in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play. After not playing in over a week, the Norse were looking for two big "W"s Sunday afternoon, as they took on top-25 Coe College in their first contest since April 16. Unfortunately, Luther was unable to leave Cedar Rapids with a victory, as the Norse suffered a 3-2 loss in game one and 8-0 loss in game two. After the day, Luther is now 24-6 overall and 5-3 in A-R-C play.

GAME ONE: (RV)  LUTHER (2) vs. #25 COE (3)
It looked like the Norse were destined to pull off the upset in game one, as Luther wasted no time jumping out to a 2-0 lead through two innings. Senior shortstop Belle Berg (Chatfield, Minn. / Chatfield) rifled a pitch over the fence as the first batter of the game, tallying her sixth home run of the season to put the Norse up 1-0 in the first. One inning later, it was very quickly 2-0 Luther, thanks once again to Berg. The senior delivered an RBI double, scoring Ken Vavrichek (Bloomington, Minn. / The Blake School), to give the Norse a two run cushion. 

Not to be shutout, Coe answered by scoring one run on Kendra Cooper in the bottom of the second, cutting the lead to 2-1 before evening it all at 2-2 in the bottom of the third. From that moment on, the two teams looked to score the go-ahead run, as both threatened throughout the remaining four innings. Luther's best scoring chance came in the top of the fifth, thanks to back-to-back singles from Abby Spore (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Kennedy) and Leah Crown (Plato, Minn. / Central), the Norse had runners on first and second with no outs on the board. Unfortunately, the Norse were unable to score, as a fielder's choice, strikeout and popup ended the inning. 

The Kohawks, in turn, were able to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, hitting a handful of weak singles against Cooper to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Luther was unable to answer, despite putting runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings. Berg's double in the top of the sixth put a runner in scoring position, but the senior never advanced past second base. After two quick outs to open the seventh, Riley Sauser (Ely, Iowa / Cedar Rapids Prairie) kept the Norse rally hopes alive, reaching base on an error by the Coe third baseman. That was the closest Luther would come to scoring the game winning run, as Chloe Wagner (Blair, Wis. / Blair-Taylor) flew out to short to end the inning. 

GAME TWO:  (RV) LUTHER (0) vs. COE (8) - 6 INNINGS
The Norse struggled to generate offense in game two, as they were held to a single hit over the course of six innings. Olivia Engler (Atlantic, Iowa / Atlantic) kept the Kohawks bats at bay through the first two innings, allowing just two base runners on two hits. However, Engler could not hold Coe at bay in the third, as the Kohawks scored two runs on three hits, including a home run, to take a 2-0 lead. 

Unfortunately, the runs just kept coming for Coe, as the Kohawks scored two runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Luther was never able to answer, though the Norse did threaten in the fourth and fifth innings. Berg looked to start something in the top of the fourth, tallying Luther's first hit of the game, but was stranded at second. Then, in the fifth, Anna Forari (Bettendorf, Iowa / Bettendorf) drew a two out walk, but, like Berg, was stranded, this time at first base. Unfortunately, when the Norse couldn't generate any offense in the sixth, the Kohawks were able to end the game early, scoring two runs to clinch the 8-0 win. 

TOP NORSE

  • Belle Berg (Chatfield, Minn. / Chatfield) was 4-6 at the plate against the Kohawks, accounting for four of Luther's nine hits in the series. She additionally accounted for both RBI in game one thanks to her home run and double. 
  • Kendra Cooper (Lansing, Iowa / Kee) suffered just her third loss of the season, as she surrendered three runs on seven hits in six innings of work. The fifth year senior additionally struck out six batters in another complete game effort. 
  • Olivia Engler (Atlantic, Iowa / Atlantic) suffered the loss in game two, throwing 3.1 innings and surrendering two runs on four hits. 

UP NEXT
Should Mother Nature cooperate, Luther is scheduled to host Simpson College in its return to Betty A. Hoff Field on Friday, April 28. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Decorah, Iowa. The doubleheader will serve as the Norse Mental Health Awareness games, as the team partners with the Hidden Opponent to raise awareness for Mental Health amongst student-athletes and college aged individuals. 

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