The Luther baseball team hosted Wartburg for the final two games of the three-game series that started Wednesday, April 2. The Knights won that game 9-6. This afternoon, the Norse swept the Knights winning game one 9-7 and the nightcap 9-8.
Josh Matanich had a monster afternoon driving in 11 runs, six in game one and five in game two, that included the game winner in the bottom of the ninth of game two. Matanich finished the afternoon 6-for-10.
Game One Recap: Luther scored nine runs on eight hits scoring five runs in the second, one in the third and three in the eighth.
Josh Stratton was credited with the win in relief. Stratton pitched 4.1 innings, allowed three runs on two hits, walked three and struck out four. Stratton took the mound with two outs in the top of the fourth and proceeded to retired the first seven batters he faced.
CJ Boudreaux was credited with the save stopping a ninth inning rally by the Knights where they scored four runs on two hits.
Offensively, Matanich had a three-run home run in the second, and a three-run double in the eighth.
Garren Heinert and
Will Heithoff were also credited with one RBI.
Ike Swanson produced a multiple hit effort going 2-for-3 and scoring twice.
Box Score
Game Two Recap: The Norse had to battle back from a 5-1 deficit after the first inning. The Norse scored three in the second and sixth frames and one in the seventh, tying the game at 8-8. In the ninth, Matanich hit the walk-off single to center field that scored
Noah Pinette who started the frame with a walk. Heinert followed reaching on a hit-by-pitch.
Gavin Scurr had a fly-out to right that did not advance any runners, setting up the Matanich game winner.
Boudreaux was credited with the win after retiring the final two batters for the Knights, with one out and runners on first and second. Boudreaux was the fifth pitcher to take the mound.
Heinert was 2-for-3 from the lead-off slot, Scurr and
Mark Prince were both credited with two RBI.
Box Score
Luther, now 4-8 in the A-R-C, 8-17 overall, has now won three in a row. The Norse will host the Central College Dutch this Friday and Saturday, April 11-12. Friday's game will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday's double header will begin at Noon.
