Box Score

FT. MYERS, Fla. - Saint John's baseball opened its 11-game, spring-break trip with a narrow 5-4 loss to Augustana (Ill.) on Saturday, March 5, at Terry Park in Ft. Myers, Fla.

The Johnnies (2-2 overall) gained a 4-3 lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but allowed single runs in the eighth and ninth for the defeat.

SJU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a two-run throwing error by the Vikings (6-1 overall) in the bottom of the first inning.

Augustana found the scoreboard with a single run in the top of the fourth inning, thanks to a leadoff triple, and gained a 3-2 lead with two runs in the fifth.

Sophomore third baseman Joe Becker (New Prague, Minn.) started the two-run rally in the seventh with a leadoff single. He stole second base and scored on an RBI double off the bat of senior right fielder Soren Roe (Golden Valley, Minn./Blake). Roe moved to third on a pinch-hit single from sophomore Jordan Amundson (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and scored on a sacrifice fly from junior second baseman Owen Dauk (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview).

The Vikings tied the game at 4-4 with an unearned run in the eighth and scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a two-out double in the ninth.

Senior Nathan Brandecker (South St. Paul, Minn.) allowed three runs on seven hits in the no-decision. He struck out six and did not walk a batter in seven innings.

Sophomore Quinn Krueger (Woodbury, Minn.) took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit in two innings. He struck out two and walked three.

Soren Roe and junior shortstop Matthew Hayford (Rochester, Minn./Lourdes) led SJU's offense, which batted 1-for-10 with two outs, with two hits apiece.

The Johnnies face Haverford (Pa.) for a 9 a.m. ET doubleheader on Sunday, March 6, at Terry Park.