The Luther baseball team started its 2022 campaign with a double header sweep of Cornell College (IA). The two teams met at the Bettis Sports Complex, Topeka, Kansas. Luther won game one 11-10 and game two 18-4 in seven innings.

In game one, Luther held an 11-3 lead as Cornell headed into the top of the ninth. The Rams made things interesting scoring seven runs on five hits. Cornell's first two runs were the result of Norse errors and those were followed by a three-run home run that pulled the Rams to withing two. Collin Chalmers was called to the mound with no outs and a runner on third and got the save.

Luke Plunkett, Charlie Rubendall and Joshua Matanich all had multiple runs batted in. Plunkett was 1-for-5 with 2 rbi and also had 14 putouts behind the plate. Rubendall went 4-for-5 and drove in three, while Matanich was 2-for-3 with 2 rbi. Joe Jersak also had a multiple hit game going 2-for-4.

In game two, the Norse exploded for 18 runs on 14 hits. They scored four in the first, three in the third, two in the fourth, one in both the fifth and sixth frames and seven in the top of the seventh. Matanich and Gavin Scurr were both 2-for-5 and drove in four runs. Jayden Kies, Plunkett and Rubendall were all credited with 2 rbi. Peyton Lindmark was 2-for-3 in the lead-off position and also drove in a run.

Ryan Manternach was credited with the win allowing two runs on four his in four innings of work. He walked one and struck out seven.

The Norse will return to Topeka next weekend when they will face Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) for a double header on Saturday, March 3. The Norse will also face Carthage College for a double header on Sunday, March 4. The Gustavus twin bill begins at 1:00 p.m. and the Carthage games begin at Noon.