Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Saint John's opened its 2011 MIAC schedule with a doubleheader split at Bethel on Tuesday, April 5. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for April 2 but was postponed because of poor field conditions. SJU won the first game 6-1 before dropping game two, 15-9.
Sophomore Connor Cline (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) gave SJU a 1-0 lead in game one with an RBI single in the third.
The Johnnies (7-6, 1-1 MIAC) added five runs, four unearned, in the sixth inning. Senior Matt Boys (Eden Prairie, Minn./Minnetonka) smacked an RBI double before senior Andrew Hengel (Bemidji, Minn.) and sophomore Alex Powell (Hopkins, Minn.) added back-to-back RBI singles. Senior Brian Skluzacek (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) kept the inning going with an RBI single and another run scored following a single from Cline. Cline ended the game 3-for-4, while Hengel went 2-for-2.
Senior Brett Kramer (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) improved to 2-2 on the season with the complete-game victory. He allowed one run off seven hits and struck out six to lower his ERA from 2.76 to 2.31 in 23.1 innings so far this season.
Saint John's took an early 5-0 lead in the first inning of game two. BU starting pitcher Matt Rowley walked in two runs, gave up an RBI single to sophomore Max Forster (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) and a sacrifice fly to Hengel. Powell capped the scoring with an RBI single.
The lead didn't last long, however, as Bethel (8-6, 1-1 MIAC) tied the game with five runs off three hits of its own in the bottom half of the inning.
Senior Matt Butorac (Maple Grove, Minn.) tied Jed Riegelman (2001-04) as SJU's all-time leader in doubles with an RBI two-bagger to give the lead back to SJU in the second.
BU re-gained the lead right back with three runs in the second, before SJU flipped it back with RBI doubles from Hengel and Skluzacek in the top of the third. Bethel tied it at 9-9 with a run in the bottom half of the inning.
Butorac started the fourth with his record-breaking double, the 35th of his career, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. That is where he stayed, however, as the Johnnies failed to bring him in. It was clear the momentum shifted, as Bethel scored five runs in the bottom half of the inning.
SJU ended its scoring with an unearned run in the fifth.
Junior Hayden Zimmerman (New Richmond, Wis.) took the loss, allowing 12 runs on 10 hits. He walked five, hit one batsman and struck out three in three innings of work. He left in the fourth with no outs and the bases loaded. All three came around to score.
Saint John's tagged Rowley, the former MIAC Pitcher of the Week, for eight earned runs off six hits in three innings.
Bethel, however, picked off four Johnnie base-runners on the day.
The Johnnies return to action with their home opener against St. Thomas tomorrow (Wednesday, April 6). The doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Saint John's Field in Collegeville.
