Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Saint John's baseball scored 31 runs in 11 innings of play in a doubleheader sweep of Northland (Wis.), 18-1 and 13-0, on Wednesday, March 17, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The Johnnies (5-0 overall) batted .466 (27-for-58) on the afternoon with 11 doubles and two triples, while the pitching staff struck out 17 and the defense provided errorless play. SJU scored a run or more in nine of the 11 innings.
SJU totaled 19 hits, including 10 for extra bases (nine doubles and one triple), in game one. Each starter in the lineup had at least one hit.
Sophomore southpaw
Sam Hanson (Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) struck out a career-high 12 and surrendered four singles in five shutout innings for the win. The 12 strikeouts were the most by a Johnnie since Tyler Delwiche '15 - also a lefty - recorded 12 strikeouts on March 20, 2015, against Concordia (Wis.) in Tucson, Ariz.
The lone run for Northland (0-5 overall) scored in the sixth inning of game one on a sacrifice fly, thanks to a leadoff double.
The Johnnies took advantage of seven walks - and an eight-run third inning - win take game two, 13-0. The contest ended in the fifth inning with 12 minutes to spare (of the venue's five-hour time limit).
Freshman
Griffin Larson (Edina, Minn.), sophomore
Matt Herold (North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View), sophomore
Alex Otto (Monticello, Minn.) and freshman
Kody Dalen (Carver, Minn./Chanhassen) combined for the four-hit shutout.
Sophomore designated hitter
Max Nyrop (Alameda, Calif.) led the Johnnies' bats by going 5-for-6 with five RBI and four runs scored. He is batting .643 (9-for-14) with two home runs, nine RBI and six runs so far this season.
Sophomores
Matt Hayford (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) and
Zach Selchow (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview), and freshman
Rodney Erickson (St. Paul, Minn./Woodbury) added three hits apiece.
The Johnnies batted .489 (23-for-47) with runners on base and .486 (17-for-35) with runners in scoring position in the two wins.
SJU and Bethany Lutheran are tentatively scheduled to play a home-and-home series this weekend, beginning with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday, March 20, in Mankato (pending the snow melt). The Johnnies return home to host the Vikings for two more games at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at Becker Park.