Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 29 Saint John's baseball opened conference play with a doubleheader split with Saint Mary's on a wintry Sunday, March 31, at Becker Park.

The Johnnies (16-5, 1-1 MIAC) dropped game one in a pitcher's duel, 2-1, but bounced back with 12 unanswered runs in a 12-1 win in the nightcap (10-run-rule) to salvage the split.

Saint Mary's 2, Saint John's 1
Saint Mary's (9-9, 1-1 MIAC) found the scoreboard first with a pair of runs thanks to a two-run, two-out single from Connor Cornell in the top of the fourth inning.

SJU cut its deficit in half with a manufactured run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior right fielder Wyatt Ulrich (Indus, Minn./International Falls) singled to start the inning, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout from senior center fielder Max Jackson (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) in the ensuing at-bat.



The Johnnies only recorded four hits, only one of which left the infield, off SMU's James Green.

Senior Jake Dickmeyer (Woodbury, Minn.) took the tough-luck loss, his first of the season and first since April 21 of last year (Bethel). He allowed six hits and struck out five in the complete-game outing. For the first time in his collegiate career, Dickmeyer issued three free passes (two walks and one hit batsman) in an appearance.

The win snapped the Cardinals' seven-game losing skid to SJU, its first victory in the series since 2016.

Saint John's 12, Saint Mary's 1
SJU's bats woke up in the nightcap for 15 hits (three for extra bases) in only six innings.

SMU gained a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but senior Danny Kuhn (Alexandria, Minn.) responded by setting down nine straight Cardinals. The Johnnies answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and threw up three runs in both the fifth and sixth.

Ulrich went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and junior third baseman Jack Schramel (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) totaled three hits (3-for-4), including a double. The duo combined for a 9-for-15 day at the plate.

Junior shortstop Michael Gruber (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area) posted his second 4-RBI game of the season, thanks to a two-run triple in the sixth inning, while Jackson, senior second baseman Thomas Meland (Northfield, Minn.) and freshman Ethan Roe (Golden Valley, Minn./Blake) collected two hits apiece. Jackson drove in three. SJU's Nos. 6-9 batters accounted for seven of the team's 12 runs scored.

Kuhn improved to 4-0 with the complete-game victory, allowing six hits with five strikeouts.

The Johnnies host Concordia for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday, April 4, in Collegeville. The games were originally scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, but were moved due to unplayable field conditions in Moorhead. The Cobbers will be the home team in both contests.