Girvan stars, and Luther sweeps

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Becca Girvan got a little older Tuesday. And she pitched a little stronger.

Girvan fanned 12 batters in outdueling Ashlee Simon in the opener, then effectively closed up shop in the nightcap as NCAA Division-III fifth-ranked Luther swept an Iowa Conference softball double-header from No. 3 Coe, 2-1 and 11-2, in front of a crowd of 383 at Clark Field.

Not a bad way to celebrate a birthday. Girvan, a sophomore from Maple Grove, Minn., turned 20 Tuesday. And she sent her record to 15-2.

"My rise and my curve were working well, and I felt I was throwing harder than normal," she said.

Luther (24-4 overall, 7-1 IIAC) stayed atop the Iowa Conference standings, likely pushing the Kohawks (24-6, 4-4) out of title contention.

"Any win against Coe is a big win," said Luther Coach Renae Hartl. "It doesn't happen very often."

The Norse scored a run in the third inning and another in the fourth in Game 1 for a 2-0 lead (Lauran Snyder singled home Shari Huber, then Kelsey Weindruch doubled in pinch-runner Kayla Hatting), then held their collective breaths at the end.

Singles by Brandi Haight and Kelsey Hood and a walk to Abby Flannagan loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, then Girvan hit Taylor Riedl to make it 2-1 and put the tying run at third base.

But Amanda Hanson grounded out to shortstop to end the rally.

Girvan and Simon both allowed five hits. Simon struck out 13 batters, one more than Girvan.

"Two really good pitching performances," Coe Coach Bob Timmons said. "We played pretty well in the first game, but Luther is a great team, a veteran team."

Luther secured the sweep in a five-inning finale, scoring 10 straight runs after the Kohawks took a 2-1 lead.

Weindruch delivered the big blow, a three-run double to left in the top of the third to put Luther in front, 4-2.

Huber did what a good leadoff hitter should do, and then some. She was 3-for-3 with a walk, scored four times and drove in a run.

"My job is to see a lot of pitches and to let my teammates see a lot of pitches when I'm up there," she said. "I was pretty patient up there today."

Girvan relieved Kelsey Rose in the middle of the third with Luther in front, 6-2. She allowed one baserunner in three innings.

"She's been doing that some for us," Hartl said. "She has really improved the strength in her legs since last year, and that has allowed her to go harder and longer."

Haight hit a two-run single in the second game.

Game 1

R

H

E

Luther

0 0 1

1 0 0

--

2

5

Coe

0 0 0

0 0 0

1

--

1

5

1

Becca Girvan and Kelsey Kittleson. Ashlee Simon and Abby Flannagan. W -- Girvan (15-2). L -- Simon (11-3).

Game 2

R

H

E

Luther

1 0 4

1 5

--

11

14

Coe

0 2 0

0 0

--

 2

 4

2

Kelsey Rose, Becca Girvan (3) and Kelsey Kittleson. Maddison Woodruff, Sara Nieland (4), Woodruff (5) and Abby Flannagan. W -- Rose (7-1). L -- Woodruff (11-3). SV -- Girvan (3).

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