by Max Mercy

Proctor defeated Greenway, 8-4, in a non-conference baseball game at Terry Egerdahl Memorial Field on Thursday, May 4.

Winning pitcher John Aase (4-0 W-L, 1.33 ERA) worked five innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks. He had eight strikeouts. Luke Nordquist picked up the save by pitching the final two innings. He allowed one unearned run on one hit and no walks with one strikeout.

Aase tied Ben Nelson (PHS '13) for third on the Rails' all-time wins list; he now has 16 wins in his prep career. Nordquist recorded his fourth career save which ties him with Kyle Wojtysiak (PHS '05) for the leadership in the program's record book.

Aase and Nordquist also hit home runs in the game. Aase hit a two-run homer in the third for a short-lived 2-1 lead and Nordquist's three-run blast came in the sixth to give the Rails an 8-3 lead.

Greenway scored a run in the first inning as leadoff batter Bay Zuehlke drew a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI single by Nick Shea.

Greenway, down 2-1, rallied for two runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Christian Neumayer reached base on an error and scored on an RBI single by Ben Steel. Steel advanced on an error after his hit and scored on an RBI single by Bailey Thorson.

Proctor took the lead for good in the fourth. Zach Gunderson led off with a single, Ryan Lear walked with one out, and Matt Johnson reached on an error to load the bases for Jordan Linder, who knocked in two runs with a gap double.

Proctor added a run in the fifth for a 5-3 lead when Nordquist led off with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball, took third on a ground out by Bryce Huffman, and scored when Gunderson hit an RBI single with two outs.

Greenway starter Mike Chupurdia took the loss. He allowed five runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings. Caulin Olson replaced him with two outs in the fifth. Olson faced one batter to get out of the inning and was relieved by Neumayer to start the sixth.

Pinch-hitter Jerid Parrott led off the sixth with a single, the first of his varsity career. Parrott and Ben Harnell, courtesy-running for catcher Reid Morin, both scored on Nordquist's home run, the first of his varsity career.

Harnell also scored on Aase's home run in the third. It was Aase's sixth career round-tripper, which moves him into fourth place on the Rails' all-time list for home runs.

Nordquist was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs, and three RBI. Aase was 1-for-3 with a home run, a run, and two RBI. Gunderson was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, and Linder was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.

Proctor is back in action on Friday, May 5, at 4:30 p.m., against Two Harbors.