Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. – Saint John's baseball started its Tucson trip with a 15-2 win in seven innings - due to the 10-run rule - over Rockford (Ill.) on Friday, March 7.

The Johnnies (3-0 overall) scored two runs or more in each of the first four innings and totaled 17 hits, including eight of the extra-base variety, while senior lefty Will Fazio (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake) handled the rest in the victory.

Senior third baseman Joe Becker (New Prague, Minn.) reached base all five trips to the plate and fell a single short of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with two walks, and totaled six RBI. Juniors Brendan Hemr (Blaine, Minn./Centennial) and Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) drove in three runs and scored three runs each.

Marquardt clubbed the first pitch of the game for a solo homer, his first of the season and second of his career, and Becker followed with a bomb of his own for a quick 2-0 lead. The Regents (2-1 overall) cut their deficit in half with an RBI double in the bottom half of the frame.

Hemr tripled to start the second inning and scored on a two-run triple from Becker, who crossed the plate on a two-out double off the bat of senior first baseman Owen Best (Aurora, Colo./Regis Jesuit).

SJU loaded the bases with nobody out in the third before Marquardt collected his second RBI with a walk. Becker then cleared the bases with a double for a 9-1 lead.

Hemr dropped in a two-run single in the fourth inning before Rockford scored its second run of the game, with two outs, in the bottom of the fifth.

Hemr started a four-run sixth inning with an RBI double and Marquardt matched him two batters later. Freshman Alex Matchey (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) and Best followed with a pair of two-out, RBI singles.

Fazio surrendered the two runs on five hits and struck out nine in 6.0 innings. Freshman Drew Lange (Albany, Minn./Holdingford) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning in his first collegiate appearance.

The Johnnies face Concordia (Wis.) for a 9 a.m. MT doubleheader on Saturday, March 8.