Luther posted its first conference win of the year, defeating Simpson College in Indianola 8-7 tonight. This was game one of the three-game series. Tomorrow's double header is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Luther entered the bottom of the ninth with an 8-1 lead. The Storm scored six runs on five hits in their last at-bat, giving Norse fans a good scare. Harry Blum (5-1), who was credited with the win, entered the ninth and loaded the bases. Noah Dutler took over for Blum and faced one batter, who hit a three-run double. Blake Jondle, who was credited with his fourth save, was called in to stop the Storm rally. Jondle faced four batters, allowed two hits and struck out two. He ended the game with a pick-off of pinch runner Landon Couse to end the game.

During his eight innings of work, Blum faced 31 batters, allowed five runs on four hits, walked two and struck out eight. All five runs were earned. At one point, he retired 12 Storm batters in a row.

Offensively, Luther tallied 12 hits, scoring twice in the first, once in the second, fifth and sixth innings, and adding three in the seventh.

Joshua Matanich, Gavin Scurr and Noah Kindem all drove in two runs. Dutler and Garren Heinert were both credited with one rbi. Matanich, who had two hits, got things started for the Norse with a two-run home run in the first. Kindem and Dutler also had two hits and Heinert led the team with three.

Box Score

The win gives Luther an overall record of 12-6, 1-2 in the A-R-C. Simpson fell to 7-12, 0-4 in league play.