Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Saint John's bounced back from a frustrating sweep at Hamline April 27 with 13 runs on 19 hits in a sweep of Bethel, 7-2 and 6-0, on Sunday, April 28, in Arden Hills.
The Johnnies (12-13, 3-7 MIAC) pounded out 12 hits and rode the complete-game effort of senior Ryan Spengler (St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) in game one, and senior Scott Schroeder (Richmond, Minn./Rocori) lost a no-hit bid with one out in the seventh in game two's shutout.
Sophomore Aaron Pfaff (New Ulm, Minn./Cathedral) started game one with a double and scored on a double-play ball to give SJU an early 1-0 lead. Spengler got out of a jam in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a triple play turned by senior shortstop Max Forster (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) to senior first baseman Connor Cline (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson). The triple play is the Johnnies' first since May 4, 2002 (lineout to first baseman Jamie Louwagie, to shortstop John Hoffer at second base).
The Johnnies built a 4-0 lead with three runs in the third. Cline and junior Josh Groth (Fridley, Minn.) started the inning with back-to-back singles before junior Dylan Graves (Mora, Minn.) reached on a bunt single. An error by the second baseman, however, enabled Cline to score on the play, leaving runners at the corners. Graves then stole second and Groth advanced home on the throw. A double from junior Luke Larson (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) scored Graves.
Bethel (19-8, 6-4 MIAC) chipped away with single runs in the third and fourth innings before SJU added three more in the sixth. With two outs, BU intentionally walked Cline to load the bases but then hit two batters and walked another to plate three runs.
Spengler improved to 4-0 on the year, allowing the two runs on eight hits. He struck out four and walked one in the complete-game victory.
Pfaff continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-5 with two doubles. Cline, Larson and junior Justin Thompson (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) added two hits apiece.
SJU broke a scoreless tie with a single run in the third inning of game two. With one down, sophomore Brett Becker (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on an infield single by Cline.
The Johnnies added four more in the sixth and another in the seventh. Cline and Graves tallied RBI singles in the sixth, while sophomore Kurt Jantscher (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) poked a two-run single down the right-field line. Larson ended the scoring with a sac fly in the seventh.
Schroeder carried the no-hitter into the seventh, where he induced a flyball out to the first batter before Luke Schultz slipped a groundball single into right field. An infield single with two outs and a walk loaded the bases, forcing the decision to bring in senior Joey Long (Belvidere, Ill./Rockford Boylan), who ended the game with a three-pitch strikeout.
Schroeder allowed the two groundball hits and walked four with three strikeouts to improve to 3-1.
Cline finished the day 4-for-6 with four runs scored in his first appearance in the lineup since injuring his throwing hand April 7. Larson matched his 4-for-6 performance with a double and four RBI. Pfaff ended his weekend 8-for-13 with two doubles and a .688 on-base percentage in his last four games.
SJU travels to face Macalester for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday, May 1, at Nicholson Baseball Field in St. Paul.
