CEDAR RAPIDS – A pair of close-knit games highlighted the evening session of day one of the 2009 Iowa Conference baseball Championships Thursday, May 7.

Second-seeded Luther parlayed a walk to infielder Mark Weber, a sacrifice bunt and a single from infielder Ben Schott to push across the winning run in the seventh inning against third-seeded Coe 3-2. The Norse (28-11) got a strong pitching performance from the combination of Adam Kohls and Nate Todd, as the duo held the Kohawks (23-18) to just six hits. Coe infielder Pat Richmond, closing a big first day, ended with three hits.

The nightcap saw more excitement. Fourth-seeded Wartburg (24-17) held a 7-2 lead on top-seeded Loras (25-13) in the sixth inning before the co-league champions broke out a seven-run rally. The Duhawks’ 9-7 edge was short-lived, though, with the Knights rallying right back with one in the seventh and two in the eighth for a 10-9 win. Outfielder Patrick Grau, closing a six-hit, eight-RBI first day, was four-for-four with two doubles and five RBIs, including a two-out, two-run single in the eighth, to lead Wartburg. The infield duo of Nick Olberding and Ben Keubel guided Loras, going a combined five-for-nine with five RBIs.

Friday’s second day of competition begins with back-to-back elimination games. Fifth-seeded Buena Vista and sixth-seeded Simpson collide at 10 a.m. followed by third-seeded Coe and top-seeded Loras going head-to-head at 1 p.m. Those two winners then meet at 7 p.m. Wartburg and Luther, the two remaining unbeatens, tangle at 4 p.m.