TUCSON, Ariz. – The Carleton College baseball team staged multiple late rallies against the Luther College but fell just short in a tight 7-5 loss to the Norse.
 
Luther (10-4) faced the Knights (1-4) for the third time this season, and the Norse scouting reports appeared good early as number two hitter, Cullen Stamp, lashed a triple to right field and beat out a throw to the plate on a ground ball by the next batter. Luther only held that lead until the bottom of the second frame, when Carleton designated hitter Jordan Appelbaum bounced a grounder into right field to score Steve Antrim.
 
That 1-1 scoreline did not hold. In the top of the third, Luther's first two batters were retired, but the Norse received four consecutive free passes and a single to tack on three runs.
 
Carleton pulled back a run in both the fourth and fifth innings, chasing starter Ryan Manternach from the game. Luther added a run back in the top of the sixth, but Asher Stolberg plated two runs with a single in the bottom half of the frame, taking the score to 5-5.
 
The decisive runs came in the top of the seventh, as two errors and a double helped Luther to a 7-5 advantage.
 
The Knights were stymied in the seventh with a pair of stranded runners. In the bottom of the eighth, reliever Evan Holbert allowed a walk and a single. Sidewinding southpaw Blake Jondle came in for the Norse with runners on second and third, walked Sam Chutkow to load the bases, but was able to induce a groundout to escape the jam.
 
With two down in the bottom of the ninth, Carleton got the tying runs on base via an error and a clean single by Sam Gossard. With the potential winning run at the plate, Jondle was able to pick up a strikeout and earn the save.
 
Stolberg sprayed three hits on the day, picking up two RBI and two stolen bases. Antrim was 2-for-5 with a run and the Knights' lone extra-base hit. Carleton outhit the Norse 12-7 in the game but left 11 runners on base.
 
Ananth Iyer got the start on the hill for the Knights and worked 5.1 innings, allowing five runs on five hits. Andrew Sellers was saddled with the hard-luck loss after allowing the two unearned runs in the seventh. Kai Oishi twirled 2.0 innings from the 'pen, putting up a pair of zeroes with three strikeouts to keep the Knights in the contest. 
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton squares off with Bates College on Monday, March 18. First pitch comes at 9:30 MST/11:30 CDT.