DECORAH—On paper, the Iowa Conference softball tournament seemingly mattered little.

But No. 3-ranked Luther College and No. 10 Central College staged a spirited title-game tussle worthy of a pair of top-10 foes, with the Dutch unable to withstand a final assault in a 4-3 nine-inning defeat Saturday. Central made its bid for the crown when shortstop Emily Wilson (sophomore, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) and designated player Karly Olson (senior, Winterset) roped back-to-back doubles to left-center for a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth. But Luther (39-3) loaded the bases with three straight hits, including a pair of bunts, and rallied for a two runs and a come-from-behind win.

Second-seeded Central (32-8) had advanced earlier Saturday with an 8-0, six-inning tourney semifinal victory over sixth-seeded Loras College.

While the tourney title gives Luther the league's automatic NCAA Division III tournament berth, the Norse's postseason fate wasn't really in doubt. Meanwhile, Central, which finished behind Luther in the conference race, cemented its status with the league with its tournament finish. And, coach George Ware hopes Central's NCAA position is locked in as well.

The Dutch were ranked No. 3 in the Division III Midwest Region last week and are unlikely to fall from that perch, particularly after Coe College, rated No. 2 in the region, was ousted from the league tournament's opening round by Loras Friday.

"Our first game (against Loras), I felt like we wanted to get that to move us closer to being in (the NCAA field)," Wares said. "I think that made us secure and so then, the second game, it was just let's see what happens."

A loss is hardly reflective of pitcher Mariah Fritz's (sophomore, Tama, East Marshall HS) effort against Luther's hard-hitting lineup. Fritz (10-4) yielded 12 hits—four in the ninth—but gave up just three earned runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 8.1 innings.

She followed another sparkling performance from Olson in the semifnal against Loras, as she tossed her ninth shutout, a four-hitter. She walked two—one intentionally—and struck out six to improve to 16-4.

"Mariah (Fritz) threw a really good game," Wares said. "Obviously we didn't want to use her as long as we did. But Karly (Olson) really tightened up after she threw and we decided we didn't want to bring her back and we didn't think that it was a fair spot to bring Annie DeVries (junior, Eldridge, North Scott HS) in after Luther got the leadoff runner on in the ninth.

"That's probably the most pitches Mariah has thrown since East Marshall High School."

Luther, which boasts one of the region's best pitching staffs, was challenged as well. Central riddled three Norse pitchers for 13 hits, including two by left fielder Tabitha Taylor (junior, Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes HS), first baseman Abbie Voas (senior, Chanhassen, Minn.), Olson and Wilson. But the Dutch couldn't make their ninth-inning lead hold up.

"We had chances before that, but so did they," Wares said. "Overall, I was happy with the way we played. They're a very good softball team, but so are we."
Central missed some early scoring chances in the semifinal against Loras as well before breaking through with a two-run double by designated player Amanda Sigulas (freshman, Morton, Ill.) in a four-run fourth inning. Right fielder Sarah Bowen (senior, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) also delivered an RBI hit.

The Dutch added an unearned run in the fifth inning and they ended it with three runs in the sixth on a two-run double by Olson followed by a walkoff single by Taylor. Taylor was 3-for-3 with a walk in the contest while Bowen had a two hits and a walk, scoring two runs. Taylor reached base seven times on the day.
Center fielder Sara Tallman (freshman, Pella) added to her rapidly growing list of accolades by shattering the school freshman season hits record. She has 58, topping the 2012 mark of 55 set by Abbey Strajack, who later became the program's career hits leader.

The 62-team national tournament field will be announced at noon Monday on www.NCAA.com, or directly at http://www.ncaa.com/live/player?vid=2017/3056&date=2017/05/08.

Most schools will be sent to three-team regionals set for Friday and Saturday, with super regionals the following week. The Dutch have made 27 national tourney appearances since 1986, the most of any Division III program.

"I'll feel better when we officially see our name," Wares said. "I hope we've done enough to be considered a host but if not, whenever, wherever, we've be very excited to play."