Fourth-ranked Luther took firm control of the Iowa Conference softball race with a doubleheader sweep of number 12 Central yesterday in Pella, 4-2 and 3-1.

The Dutch fell behind early in both contests and saw comeback bids stymied.

In game one, Luther jumped on top with two runs in the first inning and added two with a home run off in the third for a 4-0 advantage. Central clawed back with a fourth-inning homer by Paige Dickel, then loaded the bases in the seventh, but came up empty.

In the nightcap, Luther struck for three in the third, then made several spectacular defensive plays to keep Central off the scoreboard until the Dutch scratched out a seventh-inning run.

Central falls to 25-7 on the year, and is 7-3 in the Iowa Conference. They’ll try to snap a three-game losing streak Saturday when they play a doubleheader at Loras.