Danny Rose tries to throw a runner out at first base in the Knights’ 3-1 win over Luther on Saturday. Photo by Luke Shanno
MAC SLAVIN SPORTS EDITOR
The Wartburg baseball team swept the Luther Norse in three games this weekend, winning Friday 3-1 and 3-0 and Saturday 14-2.
“We played a lot better, our pitching is very strong. This is something that needed to happen for us, so it was a very positive weekend,” head coach Joel Holst said.
Saturday, the Knights topped the previously undefeated Norse, 14-2 in seven innings.
The Norse were on the board first with a one-run, two-hit first inning.
The Knights answered with a two-run bottom of the second and held the lead through the entire game.
A.J. Lewis started things off for the Knights as he reached first base on a fielding error. Jerrold Martijn advanced Lewis to third on a double to left field. A Zach Nagle groundout scored Lewis to tie the game at one. Danny Rose reached first on a fielder’s choice, which brought in Martijn to make the score 2-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Knights resumed their scoring. Billy Schmitt led off for the Knights with a walk. After Schmitt’s walk, Patrick Grau was hit by a pitch putting him on base. Lewis loaded the bases after being walked.
A Martijn double to left center field brought all three base runners in to put the Knights up 5-1. A fielding error allowed Nagle to advance to second during the next at bat, and Martijn to move to third. Danny Rose singled to left field, driving in Nagle and Martijn, as the Knights finished the inning up 7-1.
“We haven’t had innings like that to begin the conference season, and we are hoping some of the confidence can carry through the rest of the season,” Holst said.
The Norse looked to come back in the top of the sixth as they scored on a wild pitch, but the could only muster one run to put the score at 7-2.
A seven-run, five-hit seventh inning secured the win for the Knights. Nagle started the inning for the Knights with a single to left centerfield. Brandon Thurm was hit by a pitch in the next at bat to put runners on first and second. A Rose single up the middle drove in Nagle and advanced Thurm to third.
A fielding error allowed Thurm and Rose to score and Mike Johnson to reach second base. Isiah Stevens singled to left center scoring Johnson. Stevens advanced to second after a Spencer Stumpff single up the middle. In the next at bat, Lewis homered scoring all three, giving the Knights the 14-2 win.
“We just had such a poor start in the conference season, and some of it was offense-oriented, we just weren’t scoring runs, so it was nice to see a couple of those positive innings. I think it’s something that will carry us forward,” Holst said.
Jake Kuennen came away with the win for the Knights, putting his record at 2-2. He pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs.
Rose finished the game with a game-high four RBIs, while Lewis and Martijn each finished the game with three.
On Friday, the Knights topped the Norse 3-1 and 3-0.
In game one, the Knights started scoring off in the bottom of the second inning. Kyle Jones and Lewis were both walked as the second and third batters of the inning. A Norse throwing error advanced Lewis to third and Jones across home plate. Lewis scored for the Knights after stealing home, putting the Knights up 2-0.
The Norse put one run on the board in the sixth inning, but the Knights answered in the bottom of the sixth. Grau tripled and scored on a Jones sacrifice fly.
Martijn brought his unblemished record to 6-0 with the win, pitching all seven innings for the Knights. He struck out 10 and only allowed one run in the win.
“[Martijn] has done a great job for us from the beginning of the season. He does a great job of mixing his pitches and he is truly able to do a super job of basically dominating most of the teams we’ve played this year,” Holst said.
The Knights continued their scoring in the second game of the evening. Scoring started in the third inning as Rose crossed the plate on a Schmitt single to left field.
The final two runs of the game came in the sixth inning for the Knights. Jones walked in the second at bat of the inning for the Knights. Lewis singled up the middle in the next at bat advancing pinch runner Tyler Wright. Both Lewis and Wright scored on a Martijn triple to right center.
The Norse looked to come back in the bottom of the seventh inning, but weren’t able to capitalize as they finished the inning with three runners left on base.
Brad Watson got the win for the Knights on the mound, pitching seven complete innings, striking out six.
“Watson pitched extremely well Friday night. We’ve seen times where he’s been pretty dominant … but he put together a complete game for us Friday,” Holst said.
Martijn finished with a game-high two RBIs.
The wins brought the Knights record to 5-4 in IIAC play and 13-11 overall. The Knights will resume Iowa Conference action this weekend, traveling to Mount Vernon to take on Cornell. First pitch with the Rams is set for 6 p.m. at Friday.