LEVAENWORTH, Kan. – The Luther baseball team closed out the series against Saint John's with a 5-1 win improving to 2-1 on the season. The pitching duo of Harry Blum (Fridley, Minn. / Fridley) and a save from Nolan Klocke (Hayfield, Minn. / Hayfield) secured the victory for the Norse while the bats got the runs they needed. 
 
SERIES DUB
Right from the get go the Norse got on base with a single from Peyton Lindmark (Bettendorf, Iowa / Pleasant Valley). Cullen Stamp (Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata) followed with a bunt and an RBI single from Aiden Michna (Moline, Ill. / Moline) gave Luther the first run of the game. Joshua Matanich (Lake City, Minn. / Lincoln) reached on a fielder's choice, moving Stamp to third. Saint John's tried to pick off the Norse but another runner was already headed across the plate for a 2-0 lead. 
 
Top of the third with Stamp in scoring position Matanich grounded out second allowing the run to come home for a third run. But the Johnnies would finally get on the board in the bottom half of the inning. 
 
Scoring didn't resume until the top of the eighth inning for Luther. With a runner on, Matanich launched a double bringing home the runner and now leading Saint John's 4-1. Klocke was steller on the mound, knocking down the next three hitters for the Johnnies. 
 
Luther had one more run left in them as Gabe Atkins (Castle Pines, Colo. / Rock Canyon) came in to pinch hit, producing a double right off the bat. Lewis Peters (La Crescent, Minn. / Aquinas) did what he needed to do, laying down the sac bunt that advanced Atkins to third. Stamp brought him home with his RBI single scoring the final run of the game. 
 
Klocke got the save, closing out the final three innings for the Norse including the game's final strikeout. Luther secured the series win with a 5-1 win and improved to 2-1 on the season. 
 
TOP NORSE
                o   Cullen Stamp (Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata) had two runs off one hit, one RBI, and two stolen bases.
                o   Nolan Klocke (Hayfield, Minn. / Hayfield) was clutch in the final three innings of the game in his first appearance in a Norse uniform. He got his first career save while striking out five and                       only allowed one walk. 
                o   Harry Blum (Fridley, Minn. / Fridley) picked up his first win of the season. In six innings of work had seven strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT
Luther is back on the road heading to Topeka, Kansas on Saturday, March 4^th with games against Augustana College (IL) at 12:00 p.m. CT followed by Cornell College at 3:00 p.m. CT.   

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