DECORAH, Iowa-- The Wartburg baseball team's nine-game winning streak came to a halt Saturday as Luther took both games of the twinbill. The Norse claimed the first game of the day, 7-6, on a walkoff single and the finale, 6-4.
The Knights took the early 3-0 lead in their first at-bats as senior Jacob Thumann (DeWitt) hit a two-run double and then scored on junior Zach Hovick's (Roland) sacrifice fly. The Norse responded in their half with four runs on a two-run double followed by a two-run single.
This remained the score until the sixth when the Orange and Black knotted it at five all as senior Mike Brown (Bettendorf) scored on junior Cody Hyler's (Des Moines) single to left.
Luther regained the lead at 5-4 in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly and added to its margin with one run in the eighth to make it 6-4.
Brown tied the game in the top of the ninth as his single to left brought in junior Blake Mahoney (Des Moines) and Hovick with two outs. The next batter grounded out to send it to the bottom of the ninth tied at 6-6.
The Norse drew a leadoff walk and had another walk to put runners at first and second with one out. The next batter hit a single to left that brought in the runner from second for the walkoff win.
Thumann went 4-5 at the plate.
In the finale, the game was scoreless until the fourth when Thumann slugged a two-run homer over the right field fence. Luther responded once again in the inning, this time for four runs.
Wartburg made it a one-run game in the fifth as Mahoney drove in junior Eric Willis (Waverly) to make it 4-3. The Norse extended their margin in the sixth with two runs. The Knights plated their final run in the eighth as Thumann scored on Hovick's single. The Orange and Black were unable to compile a rally as they were retired in order in the ninth.
Mahoney went 3-4 in this game and Thumann was 2-4. Thumann now needs three more home runs to become the program's career leader.
Wartburg returns to the field Tuesday when it travels to face Simpson for the nine-inning game of the series.
