Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Saint John's senior Max Nyrop (Alameda, Calif.) broke the program record for career RBI as the Johnnies played to a doubleheader split at Macalester on Monday, April 24, in St. Paul.

The Johnnies (15-12, 6-4 MIAC) let a 2-1 lead slip away in a 3-2 walk-off defeat in game one but took out their frustrations at the plate in a 15-5 win (completed in seven innings due to the 10-run rule) in the nightcap. 

Nyrop's second-inning grand slam, his fourth home run of the season and 22nd of his career, tied the record of 110 RBI held by Max Jackson '19 and his two-run single in the sixth inning gave him the crown for good. He finished 5-for-7 with six RBI and is now three homers from the SJU record of 25 held by former teammate Ethan Roe '22.

Nyrop's feat was not the only milestone of the afternoon as senior second baseman Owen Dauk (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) became the 37th Johnnie to reach 100 career hits with his leadoff double to start the doubleheader.

SJU batted .377 (23-for-61), including .462 (12-for-26) with runners in scoring position, during its first trip to Macalester's Nicholson Field since 2016.

Game 1
The Johnnies started the doubleheader with three straight hits for two runs in the top of the first inning. Junior third baseman Joe Becker (New Prague, Minn.) followed Dauk's leadoff double with a double of his own to put SJU on the scoreboard. He moved to third on a single from Nyrop and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of junior center fielder Jordan Amundson (Eden Prairie, Minn.).

A soft single from the Scots' No. 9 batter cut SJU's lead in half with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. SJU left the bases loaded in the top of the fourth and left a runner on third in the seventh.

Senior Wyatt Rudolf (Carver, Minn./Chanhassen) walked Joe Margolis with one out and the bases empty in the bottom of the seventh before Hayes Waddell, who Rudolf struck out in his first three plate appearances, doubled off the right-field fence. The next batter was intentionally walked to load the bases and create the force out at any base, but Charlie Burton hit a 0-1 pitch to left field for the walk-off, two-run single for Macalester (15-13, 7-7 MIAC).

Rudolf fell to 3-2 with the loss. The three runs came on eight hits (seven singles). He struck out five and walked five on 122 pitches.

Game 2
Mac followed SJU's blueprint from game one and started the bottom of the first inning with three-straight hits to plate the first run.

Sophomore designated hitter Jackson Peter (Elrosa, Minn./Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) led off the Johnnies' six-run second inning with a double and moved to third on a single from junior left fielder Jack Schleper (Shakopee, Minn.). Senior catcher Zach Selchow (Apple Valley, Minn.) followed with an RBI single to tie the game and junior right fielder Rodney Erickson (St. Paul, Minn./Woodbury) gave the Johnnies the lead with a fielder's choice RBI. Dauk walked to load the bases before Nyrop's two-out grand slam – the third of his collegiate career – made it 6-1.

Peter and Schleper started the third inning with singles, and Selchow blasted his second collegiate homer to extend the lead to 9-1. Selchow finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored in the victory.

After Mac added single runs on RBI doubles in the third and fifth innings, Nyrop made it 11-3 with his record-breaking, two-run single in the top of the sixth. Schleper then belted a three-run homer with two outs – his first of the season and ninth of his career – to give SJU a 14-3 lead. Selchow followed with a double, sophomore shortstop Ryan Janzen (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) reached with an infield single and Erickson added to the lead with his second double of the contest.

The Scots ended the scoring with two runs off sophomore Tien Foudray (Excelsior, Minn./Holy Family Catholic) in the seventh inning, but could not eliminate the 10-run rule.

Sophomore lefty Will Fazio (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake) improved to 3-2 on the year with the win. He allowed the three runs on seven hits and struck out five with two walks in five innings.

Mac opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a single and double off Cade Marsolek (Savage, Minn./Burnsville), but the senior responded with three-straight strikeouts to end the threat.

The Johnnies return home to begin an eight-game homestand against league-leading Bethel (20-4, 12-0 MIAC) at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Haugen Field at Becker Park in Collegeville.