R.I.T. Box Score | Wartburg Box Score | R.I.T. Photos (John Biasi) | Wartburg Photos (John Biasi)

CHANDLER, Ariz. – Solid starting pitching and timely hitting led Saint John's to two wins over the Rochester Institute of Technology, N.Y. (17-7) and Wartburg, Iowa (6-4) on Thurs., March 5, in Chandler, Ariz.

In the 17-7 win over R.I.T., sophomores Matt Butorac (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Aaron Traut (St. Cloud, Minn./Rocori) had three hits and an RBI apiece, while sophomores Joe Eiden (Maple Grove, Minn./Totino-Grace) and Kyle Henkemeyer (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) added two hits each. Butorac, Henkemeyer and freshman Bert Marsnik (Annandale, Minn.) each scored three times as SJU built an 11-0 lead before the Tigers scored seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings. One run in the eighth inning and a five-run top of the ninth inning increased the Johnnies' lead to 17-7.

Gurbada, Traut and sophomore Andrew Hengel (Bemidji, Minn.) all tallied triples in the game.

Junior Matt Johnson (Eagan, Minn.) allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work to earn his first victory of the season.

Hengel and freshman Jimmy Loonan (Waseca, Minn.) had two hits apiece in the 6-4 win over Wartburg in the second nine-inning game of the day. Freshman Matt Boys (Eden Prairie, Minn./Minnetonka) blasted his first career home run, a two-run shot, to spark a four-run fifth inning that gave SJU (3-5, 0-0 MIAC) the lead for good.

Senior Alex Wahl (Plymouth, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits in seven innings to earn his first win of the season. Primarily used as a reliever over the past two seasons, Wahl made his first career start this afternoon. Junior Andrew Aebly (Madison, Wis./Edgewood) allowed one run and three hits in the final two innings to earn his second save of the season.

The pair of wins avenged losses earlier in the week to both schools. SJU fell to Wartburg (10-7) on March 1 and R.I.T. (9-2) on March 3.

The Johnnies play NAIA-member Dakota State (S.D.) for a doubleheader on Fri., March 6, in Chandler, Ariz.