The Norse swept the University of Dubuque and Buena Vista University as Tami Magner (‘08) set a school record for career RBI and Luther ran its record to 21-7 on the season and 7-3 in the conference.

In an unusual move, the games against the Spartans were moved from Dubuque to Decorah because of wet field conditions. Helped in part by the new homefield advantage, the Norse allowed no runs, winning 5-0 and 4-0.

In game one, the Norse scored once in the second inning and twice in both the fourth and fifth innings to set the tone of the game. Ashley Hoffman (‘08) put the first run on the scoreboard with a solo shot over the center field fence.

Shallyn Duffy (‘08) allowed just three hits, walked three and struck out four in six full innings of work to improve to 7-3 on the season. Kim Lambert (‘10) struck out two batters to close the deal for the Norse in the seventh.

In game two, back-to-back home runs by Magner and Hoffman started the three-run sixth inning that broke the game wide open. Magner’s blast, her 11th of the year, hit the top of the scoreboard in right field. On the very next pitch, Hoffman nailed her fourth home run of the season.

BreAnn VanDeer (‘09) went the distance in the circle. She faced 25 batters, struck out 12 and did not allow a walk. VanDeer improved to 6-2 on the season.

In the series against Buena Vista, the Norse scored seven runs on nine hits en route to a 7-5 victory in game one and tallied 10 runs on eight hits, defeating the Beavers 10-2 in six innings in the nightcap.

In game two, Luther exploded for four runs in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth. Magner set the school record for career RBI with a two-run single to right field in the fourth to up her career total to 128, breaking the old record of 125.

VanDeer had another solid outing with a four-hit complete game, striking out seven and walking just one. She also picked up the save in game one.

The Norse postponed a series against Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) and next face the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire April 18.

Men’s tennis hits 20-plus wins once again

The Norse finished the weekend 3-1, pushing their record to 23-9 and posting its third 20-plus-win season in four years.

Luther faced Macalester College (Minn.), Minnesota State University-Mankato, Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) and the University of Dubuque, with its only loss coming to Gustavus.

The Norse opened the weekend against Macalester dropping only one singles and one doubles match. Jono Martin (‘08), Tim Eisele (‘08), Brad Nelson (‘08), Reid Mason (‘08) and Jared Wiklund (‘08) each posted singles victories and lost only one set between the five.

It was more of the same against Dubuque, with the Norse losing merely one singles match in the competition. Mark Mateski (‘10), Derek Hoffman (‘08), Jacob Reitz (‘10), Alex Spilde (‘11) and Cole Henry (‘09) each posted singles victories without losing a set.

Luther ran into trouble against Gustavus and was able to win only one singles match. Eisele secured the lone victory for the Norse.

The Norse rebounded to hand MSU-Mankato an 8-1 loss to finish the weekend. Utsab Rijal (‘10), Tom Orser (‘09), Sam Burman (‘11), Mason and Matt Olson (‘08) each posted straight-set victories, while the Norse swept the doubles competition.

Luther wraps up the regular season April 18-19 with matches against Central College, Simpson College, Northwestern College (Minn.), Dordt College and Grinnell College before heading to the Iowa Conference tournament.

Baseball splits with Viterbo

Riding a solid start by Joe Nelson (‘08), the Norse avoided a sweep at the hands of Viterbo University (Wisc.) to win 6-2 in the night game after falling 7-4 in the opening game.

Nelson went the distance on the mound, allowing two runs on two hits while improving to 1-1 on the season. Nelson faced 29 batters, struck out eight and walked just two.

Luther pounded out 12 hits with multiple-hit performances by Alex Ross (‘08), Jeff Hiatt (‘08) and Ben Schott (‘10).

Ross finished the game 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Schott was 2-4. Hiatt completed a solid day going 3-4 with an RBI and finishing the series 5-7 at the plate.

The Norse jumped out to an early 3-0 in the first inning on RBI hits by Ross, Hiatt and Matt Bruhn (‘11) and pushed across runs in the second, third and fourth innings, taking a 6-0 lead.

Viterbo was only able to manage a single hit in the fifth and seventh innings and scored only two runs in the seventh.

In the afternoon game, the Norse fell behind early when the V-Hawks scored four runs in the first. By the third inning, Luther faced a 6-0 deficit.

The Norse scattered 11 hits but were unable to overcome the six-run deficit, leaving nine runners on base for the game.

Luther pushed across two runs in the fourth inning and scored in the fifth and seventh innings. Jake Waddle (‘09) was 3-4, Hiatt was 2-3 and Mark Weber (‘10) was 2-4. Cody Hyland (‘10) took the loss for the Norse.

Luther now sits at 9-9 on the season and 3-5 in the conference. The team’s series with Augsburg College (Minn.) was postponed and will next face Central College at home April 18-19.

Women’s tennis strong heading to national qualifier

The Norse posted split-squad victories over Cornell College, Wartburg College, University of St. Thomas (Minn.) and Macalester to improve their overall record to 25-6 just days before they head to the Iowa Conference Championships, which will determine who heads to the national meet.

The 25 wins are two short of the record set in 1983.

The Norse narrowly defeated St. Thomas 5-4, handing the Tommies their first NCAA Division III loss.

In singles play, Molly Beyer (‘08), Alana Humpal (‘11), Kelsie Allen (‘10) and Fran Fairfield (‘11) recorded singles victories with Fairfield securing her win with a 10-8 third set tie-breaker. Luther’s lone victory in doubles came with Beyer and Brynne Zinnecker (‘11) recording a close 9-8 decision.

In the Cornell match, the Norse won five of six singles matches and two of three doubles contests. Amy Christenson (‘08), Justine Allen (‘08) and Sarah Evans (‘08) all posted straight set victories, while Sarah Dale (‘11) and Laura Williams (‘11) posted singles victories as well.

The Norse also downed Wartburg 7-2 on wins by Humpal, Zinnecker, Kelsie Allen and Katie Nichols (‘11). Luther also swept each doubles match.

Luther tallied straight set victories in five of six singles matches and won two of three doubles matches en route to the 7-2 victory over Macalester. Humpal, Zinnecker, Kelsie Allen, Fairfield and Christenson all posted straight set victories.

The Norse next travel to the Iowa Conference Championships April 19 where they will face Wartburg in the semifinals. Luther will most likely have to defeat Coe College, their perennial rival, to win the tournament.

Information compiled in part from Luther College Sports Information.