Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Saint John's baseball started its 2023 season with a doubleheader split with Luther (Iowa) on Saturday, Feb. 25, on the University of Saint Mary campus in Leavenworth, Kan.

The Johnnies totaled 18 hits, including the go-ahead home run from senior Max Nyrop (Alameda, Calif.) in the top of the 10th inning for a 10-9 win in game one, but the Norse posted an 8-0 shutout in the nightcap.

Game 1
Three Johnnies – Nyrop and juniors Jordan Amundson (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Owen Best (Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit) – collected four hits apiece and combined for five runs scored and nine RBI. Amundson smacked two doubles and Best, who was making his Johnnie debut, hit a homer in the sixth inning and drove in five for the game.

Senior Wyatt Rudolf (Carver, Minn./Chanhassen) made his SJU debut and picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts in six innings of work. Senior southpaw Casey Trapp (Blaine, Minn./Centennial) made the start and was tagged with seven runs – three earned – on seven hits in four innings. He struck out six in the no-decision.

Game 2
The Norse scored six of their eight runs in the second inning and the team's ace - Ryan Manternach - took care of the rest. The All-ARC first-team selection a year ago held SJU to three singles in the complete-game, seven-inning shutout.

The Johnnies loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the sixth inning, but Nyrop lined a screamer at the second baseman and Amundson grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Junior Griffin Larson (Edina, Minn.) took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on four hits in two innings. Senior Jack Haring (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) pitched two hitless innings of relief with two strikeouts and classmate Cade Marsolek (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) took the final two innings and allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts.

The two teams wrap up the three-game series with a nine-inning game at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 26.