Saint John's returns to the Metrodome with a doubleheader against nationally-ranked Buena Vista (Iowa) this Sunday, Feb. 26. Game one is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. in Minneapolis.
Preview Video:
-Head coach Jerry Haugen (1:22)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's started its 2012 baseball season with a split against NAIA Valley City State (N.D.) this past Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Metrodome. The Johnnies posted a 2-0 shutout in game one and fell 2-1 in game two. Senior Hayden Zimmerman (New Richmond, Wis.) and juniors Adam Wenker (Sartell, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen) and Joey Long (Belvidere, Ill./Rockford Boylan) combined to pitch the seven-inning shutout. Sophomore Luke Larson collected to RBI in his first game for SJU, including an RBI-single in the third inning. Junior Max Forster (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) started the fourth with a leadoff triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Dylan Graves (Mora, Minn.). Larson gave SJU an early 1-0 lead with another RBI-single in the third inning of game two. Junior Ryan Spengler (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) started the game and allowed two hits in three scoreless innings. Junior Charlie Perrine (Edina, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) went 2-for-3 at the plate in game two, including a double.
A LOOK AT THE BEAVERS: Buena Vista advanced to last year's Division III College World Series and finished the year with a 34-18 record. BVU finished second to Coe (Iowa) in the IIAC and received an at-large bid to the National Tournament. There, Buena Vista won its first two games before falling to Chapman (Calif.) and Marietta (Ohio). The Beavers graduated eight key seniors and are led by three seniors in 2012, infielder Brock Yossi and pitchers Michael Dirkx and James Stone. Yossi finished the 2011 season with a .304 batting average and 32 RBI, while Stone posted a 5-4 record and a 2.51 ERA in 32 innings pitched last spring. Dirkx tallied a 5-2 record with a 3.70 ERA in 65.2 innings. He finished second on the team with 51 strikeouts. BVU was ranked eighth in the 2012 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) preseason poll released in December. Sunday's doubleheader with SJU is the season opener for Buena Vista.
