The Nebraska Wesleyan baseball team got off to a good start on their spring break trip in Phoenix, Ariz., as the Prairie Wolves defeated Saint John's University (Minn.), 5-3, on Saturday (Mar. 20) afternoon.

Starting pitcher Justin Van Dyke threw 7 2/3 innings scattering eight hits with five strikeouts while allowing just two runs. Mike Lovgren then came in for the final four outs and recorded a save. Lovgren was helped by recording two pickoffs at first base.

Derek Erb-Woods had the big hit of the day for the Prairie Wolves as he got a three-run double in the third inning to put NWU up 4-0.

Josh Ostrom and Matt Honerman each had two hits for other offensive highlight for the Prairie Wolves.

NWU will play 7th-ranked Johns Hopkins University on Sunday.