Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
WINONA, Minn. – For the third consecutive doubleheader, Saint John's started slow in game one and earned a win in game two for the split, as the Johnnies split with Saint Mary's on Wednesday, April 21, in Winona.
SJU (15-14, 8-4 MIAC) allowed four runs in the third inning of game one's 5-3 loss. Senior second baseman Joe Eiden (Maple Grove, Minn./Totino-Grace), senior outfielder Andrew Gurbada (Royalton, Minn.) and junior catcher Brian Skluzacek (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) tallied two hits and an RBI each as the Johnnies' one-thru-five batters in the lineup batted 2-for-17 in the contest.
Senior Andrew Aebly (Madison, Wis./Edgewood) allowed all five earned runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts in the six-inning effort.
The bats came alive in game two as the Johnnies pounded out 10 hits, including five extra-base hits, to build an 8-1 lead thru the first 4.5 innings. The Cardinals (11-20, 4-8 MIAC), however, scored six unanswered runs to cut the deficit to 8-7. Sophomore Hayden Zimmerman (New Richmond, Wis.) stopped the rally, allowing one hit in 1.1 innings to earn his fourth save of the season. He now boasts a 1.66 ERA with a 3-0 record and three saves in 21.2 MIAC innings (six appearances, three starts).
Gurbada, senior first baseman Kyle Henkemeyer (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) and sophomore designated hitter Bert Marsnik (Annandale, Minn.) had two hits each, while Henkemeyer and freshman third baseman Max Forster (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) each added a triple.
Skluzacek added three RBI as he went 3-for-4 on the day with two sacrifice files and a sac bunt. He also threw two potential base-stealers on the day to improve to a 61.9-percent opponent success rate (13-21) on the season.
Junior Brett Kramer (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) improved his record to 4-4, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits thru 4.2 innings.
The Johnnies return home to host Augsburg this Saturday, April 24. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Saint John's Field in Collegeville.
