For the second time in the last four years, Luther accomplished something no other team in the American Rivers Conference has done, and that is sweep Buena Vista University in a three-game series. This afternoon, the Norse defeated the Beavers 13-4 and 7-3. Yesterday, the Norse posted an 8-2 win. The three wins increased Luther's A-R-C record to 9-6, 20-11 overall. The Norse are currently in fourth place in the league standings. Buena Vista fell to 11-5 in league play, 22-9 and are alone in second place.
Game 1: Luther 13, Buena Vista 4
Buena Vista did all of its damage in the first inning, scoring four runs on four hits off starter
Ryan Manternach. Following the rough start, Manternach settled down and held the Beavers scoreless for the next six innings. At one point, he retired 12 batters in a row and finished with seven strikeouts and only one walk, en route to his third win of the year.
Noah Dutler took over on the mound in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced.
Peyton Lindmark led the Norse attack driving in six runs while going 3-for-3 at the plate. Lindmark hit a three-run shot over the center field fence in the second, had a one-run double in the fourth and drove in two runs in the fifth with a single.
Gavin Scurr drove in three runs from the lead-off slot in the order. Scurr drove in a run in the fourth with a double and two in the fifth with a single.
Noah Kindem,
Mark Prince and
Tyrus Werner were all credited with one rbi.
Joshua Matanich, Scurr and Werner all had two hits.
Game 2: Luther 7, Buena Vista 3
The Norse never trailed in the ball game scoring once in both the second and third frames, twice in the fourth and three times in the sixth. The Beavers tallied a run in the third and two in the sixth.
Kaleb Thiesse (2-0) had his best outing of the year on the mound. Thiesse threw 7 2/3 innings, allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out six en route to the win.
Blake Jondle (5) recorded a pitching staff best fifth save. Jondle retired all four batters he faced after taking over midway through the eighth with two on and the tying run in the on-deck circle.
Matanich and
Cullen Stamp both had two rbi. Matanich was 3-for-4 and drove in a run in both the third and sixth frames. He finished the afternoon 5-for-7 at the plate. Stamp was 2-for-4 and had an rbi single in both the second and fourth frames. Scurr and Kindem were also credited with an rbi.
Up Next: Luther travels to Central College (6-10, 12-19) on Tuesday, April 23, for a double header that will begin at 1 p.m. This past Monday, the Dutch started this three-game series defeating the Norse 8-3 here in the valley.
