MIAC Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's University baseball team was picked to win the conference championship in the 2020 MIAC Preseason Coaches' poll released Wednesday, Feb. 19.

The Johnnies received five first-place votes and 95 points to sit atop the poll. St. Thomas was second with three first-place votes and 86 points, three ahead of Gustavus Adolphus in third (83). The Gusties tallied two first-place votes, while St. Olaf picked up the other vote in fourth (77). 

Saint John's ended the 2019 season with a 32-14 record and tied for second in the MIAC by one game with a 13-7 mark. The Johnnies made their 10th consecutive appearance in the MIAC Tournament and won their fourth playoff title in the last eight seasons with a 4-1 record, including a pair of victories over Gustavus Adolphus on the final day. SJU advanced to the NCAA Concordia Chicago Regional but went 0-2, including an opening-round, 5-4 loss in 10 innings.

SJU was ranked No. 25 in Collegiate Baseball's preseason poll and received votes in D3baseball.com's rankings. The Johnnies open the 2020 season with eight games March 2-6 in Ft. Myers, Fla., and travel to Tucson, Ariz., for seven games in four days March 21-24. SJU begins conference play March 28 at Gustavus.

The Johnnies return a pair of All-Region student-athletes in senior designated hitter/pitcher Joey Stock (2019; Cold Spring, Minn./Saint John's Prep) and senior outfielder Wyatt Ulrich (2017; Indus, Minn./International Falls) this spring. Stock was named D3baseball.com Preseason All-America honorable mention last month.

The 2020 season is the 43rd for Jerry Haugen '76, who begins his sixth decade as head coach of the Johnnies with an 852-658-5 (.564) career record.

The four-team, double-elimination MIAC Tournament is scheduled for May 7-9 at CHS Field in St. Paul.

2020 MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (10 for first, nine for second, etc.). Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with first place votes shown in parentheses, followed by the total points collected.

1. Saint John's (5), 95
2. St. Thomas (3), 86
3. Gustavus (2), 83
4. St. Olaf (1), 77
5. Saint Mary's, 65
6. Bethel, 58
7. Concordia, 42
8. Macalester, 41
9. Hamline, 28
10. Augsburg, 18
11. Carleton, 12