By John RittenhouseThe Luverne girls’ softball team busted into the win column in Southwest Conference play during a doubleheader in Marshall Thursday.The Cardinals won their second straight game when they bested the Tigers 4-1 in game 1.LHS, however, couldn’t keep the momentum going in the second game. Marshall scored nine runs in the first inning and coasted to a 20-7 victory."It was like we were a different team in the second game," said Cardinal coach Steve Semmens.Luverne turned in an outstanding effort in the opener.The Cardinals plated single runs in the first, second, third and sixth innings to open a 4-0 lead that was well protected by pitcher Stacy Lorenzen. Lorenzen was touched for one run in the bottom of the sixth, but she blanked the Tigers in six frames and limited the hosts to one hit. She recorded eight strikeouts and walked five batters in the win.Jessa Dahl and Sarah Wynia each had two hits and one double to lead the Cardinals on offense in Game 1.Luverne was never able to overcome the nine runs Marshall scored in the top half of the first inning in game two.The Cards trimmed the difference to seven runs (9-2) in the bottom of the first and trailed by eight (14-6) after scoring four runs in the fourth inning.Marshall outscored LHS 5-1 in the fifth inning to end the game by the 10-run rule.Lorenzen pitched the first inning and took the loss. Wynia tossed the final four innings.Natalie Domagala, Jessy Behr, Dahl and Kerri Fransman slapped two hits each for the Cards in the finale.Luverne, 2-6 overall and 1-3 in league play, hosts Marshall for a doubleheader May 6.
