Saint John's senior first baseman/pitcher Patrick Strey (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) batted .500 (7-for-14) with a .588 on-base percentage, a .786 slugging percentage and seven RBI as the Johnnies went 3-1 last week to lock up their seventh consecutive MIAC Tournament appearance. He was named the MIAC Baseball Player of the Week for the second time this season May 2 for his performance.
He went 3-for-6 with three runs scored and five RBI as SJU swept then-No. 8/11 St. Thomas April 26 for the first time since 1998 and for the first time at home since 1993. Strey gave SJU a 2-0 lead with a two-run double off the left-field fence in game one and belted a three-run homer, his fifth of the season, to give the Johnnies a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two. The double in game one, his 18th of the year, set a new SJU single-season record. Aside from his showing at the plate, Strey also turned in a masterful performance on the mound in game one. He went the distance, allowing one run on only four hits to improve to 4-3 on the season. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Strey then went 4-for-8 with two RBI in the split at Bethel April 30.
He currently leads SJU in batting (.417), runs scored (25), hits (53) and extra-base hits (25). His MIAC-leading 45 RBI are the third-most in a single-season in SJU history. On the mound, Strey touts a 4-3 record with a 3.20 ERA and 40 strikeouts, to seven walks, in 45 innings pitched.
The Johnnies (25-10, 13-5 MIAC) end the regular season with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Concordia-Moorhead this Saturday, May 7, at Saint John's Field in Collegeville. SJU will dedicate the baseball park and plaza immediately following game one.
Strey is batting .645 (20-for-31) with 11 runs scored, seven doubles, three home runs and 22 RBI in nine home games this spring.
