Saint John's baseball visits Tucson, Ariz., for six games over three days from Saturday-Monday, March 18-20.

THE SCHEDULE: The Johnnies start the trip Saturday with a doubleheader vs. Wesleyan (Conn.) before playing two games each on Sunday and Monday.

-Saturday, March 18: DH vs. Wesleyan (Conn.), 12 p.m. MT
-Sunday, March 19: 9 a.m. MT vs. Concordia (Wis.) | 12:30 p.m. MT vs. Redlands (Calif.)
-Monday, March 20: DH vs. Oberlin (Ohio), 10 a.m. – Live Stats

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (4-6 overall) went 3-4 during its spring-break trip in Florida last week. The Johnnies started their trip with a narrow 7-6 loss to then-No. 5 (now No. 4) Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) and a 4-3 loss in 11 innings to Misericordia (Pa), which received votes in this week's D3baseball.com national poll. SJU then strung together three-straight wins over Lebanon Valley (Pa.; W, 5-3); Pittsburgh-Bradford (Pa.; W, 11-6); and Hiram (Ohio; W, 8-7). The Johnnies finished the trip with a 16-6 loss to Wabash (Ind.) and a 9-0 defeat to Augustana (Ill.). Augustana also received votes in this week's D3baseball.com poll. 

STRONG COMPETITION: The Johnnies' seven opponents in Florida currently have a combined record of 56-33-1 (.628) record so far this season. The four teams that defeated SJU are a combined 43-12 (.782).

THE GOOD AND THE BAD: The Johnnies did well in positional hitting last week, batting .314 (22-for-70) with runners in scoring position, .769 (10-for-13) with a runner on third base with less than two outs and .500 (5-for-10) with the bases loaded. SJU also batted .282 (24-for-85) and recorded 20 of its 35 RBI with two outs. The pitching staff only allowed eight extra-base hits during the seven-game stretch and recorded 50 strikeouts in 62.1 innings.

On the flip side, SJU hit for just a .241 average overall while allowing a .313 average over the seven-game stretch. The Johnnies also struck out 51 times in 241 at bats (21.2 percent). On the mound, SJU issued 62 free passes (51 walks and 11 hit batters) in 62.1 innings en route to a 6.64 ERA. 

IN THE RECORD BOOK: Senior Max Nyrop (Alameda, Calif.) is currently tied with Matt Ode '98 for third in program history with 19 career home runs and is tied with Tony Giuliani '99 for eighth with 93 RBI. Senior pitcher Casey Trapp (Blaine, Minn./Centennial) is fifth in SJU history with 149 strikeouts, two behind Denny Coleman '69 in fourth. Trapp also has 149.1 career innings pitched, 9.2 behind former teammate Nathan Brandecker '22 in 10th.

THE OPPONENTS
-Wesleyan (Conn.): Wesleyan is 3-3 (all in Tucson), including a 2-3 record against MIAC opponents: Gustavus Adolphus (W, 2-0; L, 2-5); Augsburg (L, 5-16; W, 14-4); and Macalester (L, 7-10)...the Cardinals finished third in the NESCAC West Division last season and lost in the quarterfinals of last year's conference tournament for an 18-16 overall record.

-Concordia (Wis.): The Falcons are 5-4 this year and 4-0 against the MIAC: Hamline (W, 29-8); Augsburg (W, 5-4; W, 11-5 in 8 inn.); Macalester (W, 5-3)...Concordia plays a doubleheader vs. Carleton today (March 17)…CUW started the trip last Sunday (March 12) and plays eight games before facing SJU on Sunday morning...the Falcons finished 12-12 in the NACC last season and just missed the conference tournament by tie-breakers.

-Redlands (Calif.): The Bulldogs are 7-9 this season and play Macalester today...Redlands went 22-16-1 overall and 12-11-1 in the SCIAC last season and missed the four-team conference playoffs.

-Oberlin (Ohio): The Yeomen are 1-3 this season and start the Tucson trip on Sunday (March 19) before facing SJU in a doubleheader on Monday...Oberlin finished 7-19 last season and 3-15 (tied for last) in the NCAC.

SERIES HISTORIES: Sunday's game vs. Redlands will be the first between the two teams on the baseball diamond, while the Johnnies are 10-2 all-time against the other three opponents (all in Tucson): Wesleyan (1-0, a 12-11 victory in 2019); Concordia (5-1, doubleheaders in 2015, 2016 and 2019); and Oberlin (3-1, doubleheaders in 2013 and 2018).