Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Saint John's earned its first MIAC sweep of the season with a pair of two-run wins at Augsburg on Saturday, April 12, at Parade Stadium in Minneapolis.

SJU (12-3, 4-2 MIAC) sent nine batters to the plate in the seventh inning and erased a 2-0 deficit with four runs to win game one, 4-2, and then pounded out 11 hits in a 3-1 victory in the finale.

The Johnnies recorded two straight hits and a walk to load the bases with two outs in the first inning of game one, but did not score. Junior outfielder Aaron Pfaff (New Ulm, Minn./Cathedral) coaxed a walk to start the third, stole second, but did not advance any further.

Sophomore righty Joe Stanton (Stillwater, Minn.) retired the first seven batters he faced before Augsburg (8-12, 2-4 MIAC) found the scoreboard first with a two-out RBI in the bottom of the third.

Senior outfielder Joe Lampe (Osceola, Iowa) was hit by a pitch with one out in the fourth inning and senior catcher Justin Thompson (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) lined a single up the middle. Pfaff singled to left with two outs, but Thompson was thrown out at third base before Lampe scored from second to end the inning.

The Auggies added another two-out run in the bottom of the fifth. Lampe doubled off the deep left-field fence with two outs in the sixth, what would have been a home run at any other field in the MIAC, but became the Johnnies' eighth runner left on base.

Frustrated throughout the first six innings, SJU finally broke through with four runs in the seventh. SJU left 10 men on base in the game, including seven through the first four innings.

Junior second baseman Brett Becker (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) bunted to start the seventh and advanced to third on a two-base throwing error. Pfaff walked and sophomore shortstop Logan Hershey (Maple Grove, Minn.) bunted back to the mount, but the pitcher could not field it cleanly to load the bases.

The error forced the Auggies to make a pitching change to Tyler Beck, who struck out senior first baseman Josh Groth (Fridley, Minn.) for the inning's first out. Senior centerfielder Dylan Graves (Mora, Minn.) matched Groth's 2-2 count but blasted a bases-clearing triple over his counterpart's head to give SJU a 3-2 lead. Graves and classmate Tony Gazich (Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View) executed a double-steal to give the Johnnies a two-out, two-run lead (4-2).

Stanton improved to 2-1, allowing the two runs on four hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out four. Thompson permitted two base-runners but recorded a scoreless seventh to earn his fifth save of the season.

SJU tallied three straight one-out singles, including the 100th hit of Graves' collegiate career, to load the bases before senior third baseman Luke Larson (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) gave the visitors a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly.

Becker took advantage of a one-out double from sophomore catcher Gabe MacDonald (Minneapolis, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) with an RBI single in the second inning.

Junior Collin Felhaber (North St. Paul, Minn.) cut his lead in half by walking in a run, after getting ahead of the batter 0-2, in the second inning.

The Johnnies loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning and Pfaff added a run, what proved to be the game's last, with a fielder's choice to second base.

Felhaber improved to 3-0 on the year, allowing the one run on five hits. He labored through the start, however, as he struck out four but walked eight in seven innings. Felhaber entered the contest with 20 strikeouts, to only four walks, in 18 innings on the year.

Junior Jack Hamilton (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) allowed one hit in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, while Thompson came on to record the game's final two outs to earn his sixth save of the year.

SJU out-hit the Auggies 11-6 in game two, but Augsburg left 13 men on base. The Johnnies' bottom of the lineup, MacDonald (No. 8) and Becker (No. 9), accounted for six of the team's 11 hits in the game (combined 6-for-8).

The Johnnies play host to St. Olaf for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday, April 13, at Saint John's Field in Collegeville.

Notes: Graves became the 23rd Johnnie to reach the 100-hit plateau…Pfaff enters Sunday's doubleheader against the Oles needing two hits to join the club…Larson has 120 collegiate hits (87 at SJU, 33 as a freshman at Saint Mary's in 2011)…Augsburg was a combined 2-for-14 (.143) at the plate with runners in scoring position on the day…SJU's pitchers allowed 12 hits in the 16 innings, a .211 average, but issued 11 free passes…SJU is now 42-22 against Augsburg since 1984, including a 28-10 record away from Collegeville…the Johnnies have won eight of the last 10 meetings overall.