Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Saint John's baseball team's bats stayed hot in a non-conference sweep of Northwestern on Monday, April 15, at Haugen Field at Becker Park.

The Johnnies (17-8, 6-2 MIAC) cracked 15 hits to take game one with an 11-3 score and totaled 11 more hits in game two but needed a walk-off home run from junior catcher Blake Mellgren (Northfield, Minn.) on the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh inning for a 4-3 victory and the sweep.

SJU batted .448 (26-for-58) in the doubleheader, which was originally scheduled for March 25 but had to be postponed due to weather, two days after it batted .493 (34-for-69) with 16 extra-base hits (10 doubles and six home runs) in a home sweep of Carleton.

The Johnnies' top-two hitters in the batting order – senior right fielder Rodney Erickson (St. Paul, Minn./Woodbury) and senior second baseman Owen Dauk (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) – combined to go 11-for-13 at the plate with three RBI, two doubles and nine runs scored against Northwestern (12-16, 9-3 UMAC).

Game 1 (at Saint John's 11, Northwestern 3)
Northwestern jumped on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but SJU answered with four in the bottom half of the frame thanks to a fielder's choice from senior third baseman Joe Becker (New Prague, Minn.), a two-run single from senior designated hitter Owen Best (Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit) and a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior first baseman Jackson Peter (Elrosa, Minn./Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa). 

The Eagles responded with an unearned run in the second before the Johnnies rattled off seven-straight runs in the victory. The home team plated two in the second inning, added four unearned runs in the third and ended the scoring on Dauk's fourth hit – an RBI single – in the fifth. Dauk went 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored, while Erickson went 3-for-3 with four runs scored in the first game alone.



Freshman Carter Theisen (Rosemount, Minn.) improved to 2-1 on the season after he allowed the three runs (two earned) on five hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked three.

Freshman Brady Drkula (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) made his collegiate debut and pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief.

Game 2 (at Saint John's 4, Northwestern 3)
The Johnnies out-hit UNW by an 11-4 margin in game two, but hit into three double plays. SJU jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead when Erickson scored on a double-play ball from Becker.

The Eagles scored three runs (two earned) to gain a two-run lead in the second inning, but SJU answered with two to tie the game in the third. Erickson was retired for the first time to start the third and Dauk followed with a single. He scored on an RBI double from Becker, who tied the game on a hit from senior center fielder Jordan Amundson (Eden Prairie, Minn.). 

The only time Dauk was retired in the doubleheader came in the fifth inning when he hit a line drive off the pitcher and the deflection shot into the air to the UNW second baseman, who caught it and doubled up Erickson at first base for the third double play of the game. Dauk ended the day 6-for-7 with three RBI, four runs scored and two stolen bases.

The Eagles threatened to take the lead thanks to two infield singles and a hit batsmen with two outs off junior reliever Kade Bowar (Burnsville, Minn.) in the sixth inning, but Bowar induced an inning-ending flyout. He pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning to collect his first win of the season.

Mellgren laced the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the seventh inning for his third homer of the season and the Johnnies' third walk-off win.

Sophomore Vinny Schleper (Shakopee, Minn.) gave up three runs (two earned) on just two hits in the no-decision. He struck out four and walked two in five innings.

Erickson finished 5-for-6 with five runs scored, while Amundson and Mellgren each went 3-for-7. Amundson needs two hits to become the 39th Johnnie to reach 100 in a career. He recorded his 100th collegiate hit, thanks to five as a St. Thomas student-athlete from 2020-21, Saturday vs. Carleton.

Becker totaled four RBI in the twin bill and three to tie former teammate Max Nyrop '23 for the program's all-time record of 122.

The Johnnies travel to face Augsburg for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday, April 17, at Parade Stadium in Minneapolis.