Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. – Saint John's baseball ended its Tucson trip with a 5-4 loss to Luther (Iowa) on Monday, March 18.

The Johnnies (8-6 overall) out-hit the Norse (11-4 overall) by an 8-2 margin, but left 11 men on base and had a runner thrown out at the plate for the first out of the seventh inning.

Both teams were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, though SJU went 0-for-2 with the bases loaded and 0-for-7 with two outs. The Johnnies loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, but the inning ended on a double play, and left the bases full in the eighth.

Senior starter Kody Dalen (Carver, Minn./Chanhassen) pitched six no-hit innings but did not get the decision. He struck out seven and walked four. The seven strikeouts enabled Dalen to break his tie with Brett Kramer '11 and pass Denny Coleman '69 in to fifth on SJU's all-time list with 153. Luther entered the game batting .331 with a .514 slugging percentage and .417 on-base percentage.

Dalen is now 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA, .108 opponent batting average and 23 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched this spring.

SJU built a 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and third innings. Junior first baseman Jackson Peter (Elrosa, Minn./Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) walked to start the second, moved second on a wild pitch and stole third before scoring on an RBI single from senior designated hitter Andrew Mahlke (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen). Senior second baseman Owen Dauk (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) was hit by a pitch with one out in the third inning and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. Luther's catcher attempted a throw to get Dauk at third, but it sailed wide into left field and enabled him to score.

Luther scored five runs on two hits – thanks to four walks – to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Two of the first three runs scored on wild pitches and four of the five overall came with two outs.

Sophomore shortstop Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) reached on a bunt single in the bottom of the seventh, but was thrown out at the plate on a triple off the bat of senior right fielder Rodney Erickson (St. Paul, Minn./Woodbury). Dauk followed with a walk and senior third baseman Joe Becker (New Prague, Minn.) cut the deficit to 5-3 with an RBI single.

Senior left fielder Jack Schleper (Shakopee, Minn.) led off the bottom of the eighth with a single and sprinted to third on a pinch-hit single from senior Owen Best (Aurora, Colo./Jesuit) before junior catcher Blake Mellgren (Northfield, Minn.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field.

Senior Wyatt Rudolf (Carver, Minn./Chanhassen) took the loss in relief of Dalen, allowing four runs on one hit in 0.2 innings. He struck out one and walked three. Junior Will Fazio (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake) gave up one run on one hit and senior Jeremy Klick (Maple Grove, Minn.) pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Johnnies return home to host Northwestern (Minn.) for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader next Monday, March 25, at Haugen Field at Becker Park.