Box Score

DAVENPORT, Fla. – Saint John's baseball opened its nine-game spring-break trip with a shortened, 6-0 win over Simpson (Iowa) on Sunday, March 16.

The game entered a lightning delay at the end of the fifth inning, resumed play and ended – due to thunderstorms – with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The reigning MIAC Baseball Player of the Week, senior third baseman Joe Becker (New Prague, Minn.) went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Becker's two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning broke the scoreless stalemate and tied him with former teammate Max Nyrop '23 for second in program history with 24 home runs, one behind the record of 25 owned by another former teammate, Ethan Roe '22.

Seniors Connor Hartley (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount) and Will Fazio (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake) combined for the two-hit shutout on the mound.

Sophomore designated hitter Zach Helfmann (St. Louis Park, Minn.) made it 3-0 with a solo homer, his second of the season, to start the bottom of the fourth inning before SJU (5-2 overall) broke the game open with three runs in the fifth. Junior shortstop Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) doubled with one out and scored on an RBI single from Becker. Senior first baseman Owen Best (Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit) followed with a double and junior right fielder Brendan Hemr (Blaine, Minn./Centennial) brought in both baserunners with a two-out double.

Hartley handled the rest, allowing two hits to the Storm (4-8 overall) and struck out seven in five innings. Fazio relieved him after the lightning delay and set down all six batters in order.

The Johnnies face Martin Luther (5-2 overall) for a 3 p.m. ET doubleheader on Monday, March 17, in Auburndale, Fla.