CLERMONT, Fla. - The Luther softball team won back-to-back games to kick-start their spring break trip in Florida. The Norse started the day with a 8-0 win in six innings over Clarkson University followed by a 12-4 decision over
Wellesley College in five innings. Pitchers
Olivia Engler and
Izzy Staton pitched compete games. Luther improved its record to 3-3 overall.
Game 1: Luther 8, Clarkson 0 (6 inn.)
The Norse scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. The Norse had the bases loaded when
Raven Allen hit a sac fly to center field driving in the first run. In the third Luther drove in three more runs adding to their total as
Anna Forari,
Riley Sauser, Allen, and
Delaney Martinez-Wilson hit singles in the inning.
Sauser was credited with a RBI for driving in
Forari. Luther continued to hold off any offensive threat from Clarkson through the next two innings holding a 4-0 advantage. The Norse tallied four more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Chloe Wagner led off with a single and quickly stole second. Then
Forari followed up with her first home run of the season. It didn't take long before Luther had the bases loaded again. Martinez-Wilson was walked for the final run of the game earning an RBI.
Forari went 3-4 at the plate with one double, one home run and two RBI. Allen and Martinez-Wilson also tallied two RBI. In the circle Engler allowed three hits, recorded nine strikeouts against 22 batters faced.
Game 2: Luther 12, Wellesley 4 (5 inn.)
The Luther offense carried its momentum from the first game into the second of the day. In the top of the first with two on base
Abby Spore laid down the sac bunt putting the runners in scoring position. Sauser grounded out but earned a RBI as the games first run crossed the plate. Then with two outs Allen and
Jerrianne Dannenmueller hit back-to-back doubles putting two more runs on the board for a 3-0 lead. In the top of the second with two outs and runners on first and second,
Ken Vavrichek doubled into left field allowing two more runs to score. Wellesley began to chip away at the Norse lead adding two runs in the second and third frames.
Luther rallied in the fourth with the bases loaded. Allen drove in another run on her single into center field. She would be followed by a walk to Dannenmueller for another run. And
Alison Martinez knocked one down the left field line for two RBI. Luther was still in front by a score of 9-4. In the top of the fifth, the Norse were able to score three runs off two wild pitches and an RBI single from Sauser. The Norse defense shutdown the Blue hitters with three quick outs for a 12-4 victory.
Allen went 3-3 with one double and two RBI. Staton picked up her first win in the circle this season. She allowed seven hits with four runs three of which were earned along with five strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Luther will face Smith College at 11:15 a.m. ET / 10:15 CT followed by Hamilton College at 1:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. CT in Clermont, Fla. on Sunday, March 17.
