Saint John's travel to Tucson, Ariz., for eight games in four days over spring break March 25-28.
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (3-4 overall) split its final Metrodome doubleheader against Wisconsin-Superior March 14. Senior pitcher Scott Schroeder (Richmond, Minn./Rocori) earned his first win of the season in game one, a 6-3 victory for the Johnnies, after giving up just one run on two hits in five innings of work. In game two, the Johnnies were down 2-0 entering the fourth inning before an eight-run frame gave Superior an insurmountable lead. Senior Connor Cline (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) leads the team in a number of offensive categories, including batting average (.500), extra-base hits (5), RBI (7) and slugging percentage (.769).
SCHEDULE: The Johnnies are scheduled to play three doubleheaders and a pair of nine-inning games at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson.
-Monday, March 25: Doubleheader vs. Middlebury (Vt.), 11 a.m. MST (Field 4)
-Tuesday, March 26: Nine-inning game vs. Buena Vista (Iowa), 10 a.m. MST (Field 6); nine-inning game vs. Carthage (Wis.), 2 p.m. MST (Field 6)
-Wednesday, March 27: Doubleheader vs. Oberlin (Ohio), 9 a.m. MST (Field 4)
-Thursday, March 28: Doubleheader vs. Lewis & Clark (Ore.), 12 p.m. MST (Stadium)
BIG INNINGS: The Johnnies have surrendered 25 runs in its past three games, including 15 runs allowed in two of the 22 innings played. The Johnnies surrendered seven runs, one earned, in the top of the eighth inning en route to a 12-5 extra-inning loss to nationally-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point March 11. In its most recent game, SJU was down 2-0 to Wisconsin-Superior before an eight-run fourth inning broke the game open for the Yellowjackets in a 10-3 win.
FIRST LEG OF SPRING-BREAK TRIP POSTPONED: Due to inclement weather, Saint John's doubleheader at North Park (Ill.), scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, has been postponed. No makeup date has been made.
A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS: Middlebury opens this season against Oberlin on March 23 in Tucson after a 2012 season that saw the team finish fourth out of five teams in the NESCAC West Division Standings (14-19, 5-7 NESCAC). Middlebury returns junior outfielder Alex Kelly, who led the team in batting last season (.387). Senior first baseman Michael Morris is also back for Panthers in 2013 as one of the team's most dangerous power-hitting options. Last year, he finished with the team-lead in doubles (11) and was tied for first in home runs (2). Senior pitcher Andy Dittrich appeared in 11 games for the Panthers last season, compiling a 3-1 record and a scoreless ERA over 18 innings pitched.
A LOOK AT THE BEAVERS: Buena Vista is now 3-2 on the season after a doubleheader split at Nebraska Wesleyan March 17. The team narrowly won the first game 1-0 before falling in game two, 7-5. The Beavers have already played in several close games with four of the team's first five decided by two runs or less (3-1 record). Junior infielder Joe Paletta currently leads Buena Vista in batting (.600), runs scored (5), doubles (3) and RBI (5). Junior Jon Ringblom leads the way on the mound with a 1.50 ERA and a 1-0 record in 12 innings pitched (two starts).
A LOOK AT THE RED MEN: Carthage (1-4 overall) enters its Tucson trip riding a three-game losing streak, including consecutive losses against Concordia-Moorhead on March 16. The team opened its season losing two from a three-game series against Rose-Hulman (Ind.) March 9-10. Senior third baseman Kyle Pusateri leads the team in batting (.429) along with one triple and two RBI. Junior Jeremy Salzman leads all Red Men starting pitchers in strikeouts (14) and ERA (2.45), but has not yet recorded a decision in 2013. Salzman is the only Carthage pitcher with an ERA under five, putting the team's combined ERA currently at 5.98.
A LOOK AT THE YEOMEN: Oberlin (4-0 overall) is unbeaten in 2013 after opening the season with two doubleheader sweeps of D'Youville (N.Y.), outscoring the Spartans by a combined score of 41-13. Sophomore outfielder Andrew Hutson leads the Yeomen in batting (.583), runs scored (7) and doubles (2), while sophomore infielder Ben Whitener leads the team in RBI (5). As a team, Oberlin is hitting .378 and is a perfect 12-12 in stolen-base attempts. The Oberlin pitching staff has compiled a 3.54 ERA so far this season and is holding its opponents to a .236 batting average.
A LOOK AT THE PIONEERS: Lewis & Clark (2-15 overall) started the season with a 10-game losing streak, and since then, they've dropped five of their last seven. Sophomore Eric Hyun leads the Pioneers in batting average (.317) and stolen bases (6), and is tied for the team-lead in RBI (8). As a team, the Pioneers have scored 65 runs with a .253 batting average, as compared to a .351 average and 182 runs scored by their opponents. The Pioneers pitching staff has compiled a 7.32 ERA in 2013. Sophomore reliever Kyle Tibbett (2-1 record) has both wins for the Pioneers.
