Softball Knocks Out Luther of the A-R-C Tourney and Reach Semifinals
May 3, 2019
BOX SCORE vs. Luther College (A-R-C Tourney)
Dubuque, Univ. of 7, Luther College 5 (May 03, 2019 at Pella, Iowa)
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Dubuque, Univ. of... 400 000 3 - 7 10 1 (21-18)
Luther College...... 003 002 0 - 5 8 0 (28-10)
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Pitchers: Dubuque, Univ. of - McBee, Abby; Kayla Breunig(7) and Rachel Trader. Luther College -
Bratland and Pender.
Win-McBee, Abby(8-0) Save-Kayla Breunig(2) Loss-Bratland(18-6) T-1:46 A-100
HR DBQSB - Rachel Trader (3).
HR LUTSB - Banowetz (3); Halverson (3).
Weather: 55, cloudy, wind 5-10 S
PELLA, Iowa - Day one of the American Rivers Conference Softball Championship was full of excitement with two close games in the country's top NCAA Division III softball conference. No.5-seed University of Dubuque (26-12) won the opener, 7-5, against No.4-seed Luther (30-10), while No.6-seed Simpson upset No.3-seed Wartburg by a 7-6 final.
The single elimination tournament will wrap up on Saturday with action starting at 11:00 a.m. between No.1 Central and Dubuque. No.2 Coe will face Simpson at 1:30 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch.
The Spartans opened the tournament with a grand slam in the top of the first inning with bases loaded, Rachel Trader pounded the ball in the second pitch and sent it over the left field fence for four RBI's (her third homerun of the season). The Norse responded with a three run homerun of their own in the bottom of the third inning to slice the lead 4-3. The pitching duel would last to the bottom of the sixth inning when Luther would once again respond, this time with a two RBI homerun to left field to take their first lead of the game 5-4.
One last chance for the Spartans to regain the lead and keep the game alive at the top of the seventh. UD rallied back and scored three runs on four hits and left three on base to send the game to the bottom of the seventh with a 7-5 lead. Luther opened up with a ground out to third. The next at bat struck out swinging. Back-to-back singles and the Spartans swapped the pitcher with Abbe McBee exiting and Kayla Breunig taking the mound with two outs and two on base. Breunig would end the game with a ground out to herself for the final game ending out and a Spartan upset win 7-5. McBee improved to 8-0 on the season with the victory and Breunig would collect her second save of the season.
The Spartans 26th win of the season would give head coach Jeff Lamb his 300th career victory. The Spartans will now face the #1-seed and host Central College at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the semifinals.
Saturday, May 4
Game 3 - 11 a.m. #1 Central vs #5 Dubuque
Game 4 - 1:30 p.m. #2 Coe vs #6 Simpson
Game 5 - 4 p.m. Game 3 Winner vs Game 4 Winner
(Sunday, May 6 is the rain date.)
The winner of the tournament will receive the American Rivers Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The NCAA selection will announce AQ and at-large qualifiers, along with regional sites selected for the Championship on Monday, May 6 at 1:00 PM. Winners of the regionals will advance to the super regionals Friday and Saturday, May 17-18. This year's NCAA Division III Championship will take place Thursday-Tuesday, May 23-38 at Suddenlink Field, Tyler Texas.
