WAVERLY – Wartburg College received a strong balance of pitching and offense to lead itself to a key Iowa Conference sweep May 1.

Coach Joel Holst's Knights, improving to 20-14 overall and 13-6 in the league, took 4-3 and 10-1 wins over the University of Dubuque at Hertel Field to highlight the recognition of five seniors during Senior Day 2011. The two wins, part of a stretch in which the Orange and Black has won seven straight and 10 of 12, moved the team into second on the conference standings just a half-game behind IIAC leader Coe.

Outfielder Patrick Grau of Elkader, among the Class of 2011, had an afternoon to remember. He hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the first and added an RBI double in the home half of the third in the opener and came back with another two-run blast and four runs scored in the nightcap. Freshman infielder Ryan Powers of Wheatland, who ballooned his personal hit streak to 11, added five hits, a home run, a double and four RBIs, while sophomore outfielder Andrew Krehbiel of Donnellson ended with four hits, a double and three runs scored.

Holst's pitching staff continued to see its season earned run average plummet. Sophomore Scott Benson of Reinbeck fired six innings in game one, surrendering only two earned runs, to get the win, while fellow sophomore Ryan Doty of Dubuque struck out six and gave up only five hits in the nightcap. Senior Nate Rost of Faribault, Minn., picked up his fifth save in game one.

Wartburg continues its current five-game homestand with a pair of crucial league contests with rival Luther Tuesday, May 3. First pitch is 3 p.m.

NOTES – The Knights' staff ERA is down to 3.77, lowest since early March. Wartburg's team batting average continues to climb as well, sitting at .296 highest since before the three-game series with St. Olaf in early March. … Since Powers' hit streak began, his average is up 70 points (.266-.336). … Doty, with his Sunday complete-game included, has given up only three earned runs in the last 26 innings. … Rost has been just as impressive out of the bullpen, giving up only one earned run over his last five appearances.