Luther College hopes to take advantage of the home field this weekend when it hosts an NCAA division three softball regional in Decorah. The Norse won the Iowa Conference regular season title and take a 34-5 record into tomorrow’s matchup with Gustavus Adolphus.
Luther coach Renae Hartl says hosting is exciting for the team and the campus, and the team is excited about their first postseason experience. Hartl says the team itself is experienced even though they don’t have the NCAA postseason experience.
Hartl says she has not settled on a pitching rotation just yet. She says it depends on who is on the day they play. Hartl has two seniors and a junior who’re the top three pitchers, but she says they have a hot freshman that has been coming on and they’ll pick the pitcher that gives them the best chance to win.
St. Thomas of Minnesota is the top seed in a regional that is loaded with traditional powers. Hartl says they’re the number two seeded region, and she can’t imagine how another regional can be stronger.
Wartburg is also part of the regional and plays Wisconsin-Stevens Point in tomorrow morning’s opener.