Saint John's hosts Hamline for a 1 p.m. doubleheader this Saturday, April 26, at Saint John's Field in Collegeville. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM, via Real Audio Player)

Preview Video:
-Head coach Jerry Haugen (2:17)

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (17-6, 9-5 MIAC) head baseball coach Jerry Haugen '76 earned his 700th career win in game two of the Johnnies' doubleheader sweep of Macalester, 9-2 and 5-2, on Tuesday (April 22) in St. Paul. SJU out-hit Mac 25-11 on the day and the Scots committed seven errors. The Scots struck first with a two-out, RBI double in the first inning of game one before SJU added three runs in the fourth. The Johnnies tied the game on a wild pitch and gained the lead with a sacrifice fly from sophomore catcher Gabe MacDonald (Minneapolis, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) before senior outfielder Joe Lampe (Osceola, Iowa/Clarke) smacked his first collegiate home run to right field. Back-to-back doubles cut the Johnnies' lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth until the visitors answered with five runs in the top of the sixth and added an unearned run in the seventh. Only four of the nine runs scored were earned as the Scots committed three errors in the contest.

Junior John Schumer (St. Stephen, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen) improved to 2-0 on the year by allowing the two runs on four hits in five innings of work. He walked four and struck out two in what was his second varsity start of the year, and first since March 5 in Fort Myers, Fla. Freshman Lucas Glomb (Woodbury, Minn./Hill-Murray) wrapped up the game for SJU with two scoreless innings of relief.

SJU left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning of game two. Senior Justin Thompson (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska), making his first collegiate start on the mound, allowed his first two runs this season, earned or unearned, after the first four batters reached safely. Hershey cut the deficit to 2-1 with an RBI single in the fourth inning but SJU still left the bases loaded, and Lampe was thrown out at home for the third out in the fifth. Junior outfielder Aaron Pfaff (New Ulm, Minn./Cathedral) started the sixth inning with a single, Hershey doubled and Graves was hit by a 3-2 pitch, to load the bases. Gazich tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI groundout for the first out. Druk smashed a line-drive to the shortstop and the Scots registered a strikeout to end the inning. Pfaff gave SJU a 3-2 lead in the seventh with a two-out, RBI double that scored senior third baseman Luke Larson (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) all the way from first base. Gazich doubled with one out in the eighth, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error on the catcher to make it 4-2 and the Johnnies added an unearned run in the top of the ninth.

CATCHER TO CLOSER, TO STARTING PITCHER: Thompson went the distance in game two's 5-2 win at Macalester Tuesday, allowing four hits in the final eight innings (seven total) and struck out seven in the complete-game victory. He entered his first collegiate start with a 0.00 ERA in nine relief appearances, including seven saves. He now touts a 0.95 ERA, a .162 opponent batting average and 21 strikeouts to only four walks in 19 innings pitched.

No. 9 PRODUCTION: Junior second baseman Brett Becker (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) has two hits in each of his last four games, combining for an 8-for-13 performance with four RBI, at the No. 9 spot in the Johnnies' lineup. He currently leads the team in batting average (.403), hits (29), on-base percentage (.462) and multiple-hit games (11).

GAZICH AT FIRST: Gazich has a hit in each of his last six games since replacing classmate Josh Groth (Fridley, Minn.), who suffered a season-ending wrist injury against St. Olaf April 13, at first base. He is batting .348 (8-for-23) with five runs scored, three doubles and two RBI during the six-game stretch.

FINALLY HOME: Junior Collin Felhaber (North St. Paul, Minn.) and sophomore Joe Stanton (Stillwater, Minn.) are scheduled to make their first pitching starts at home this season Saturday. Felhaber is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA and leads the team in strikeouts (29) and innings pitched (31), while Stanton is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA.

A LOOK AT THE PIPERS: Hamline (12-12, 6-8 MIAC) resumed its suspended game with Saint Mary's from April 2, today, and earned an 11-10 win in 10 innings. Seven of the Pipers' games have been decided by one run this season (4-3 record). Junior Evan Cordell leads the team in batting (.442), slugging percentage (.649) and RBI (24), while junior Matt Connell boasts a team-leads in hits (36), runs (25) and home runs (3). HU's pitching staff has a 5.40 ERA and a .302 opponent batting average, allowing 58 extra-base hits (40 doubles, 10 triples, eight homers), in 188.1 innings.

SERIES HSTORY: The Johnnies are 28-14 against Hamline since 1993, including a 14-4 record when SJU is playing in Collegeville.