Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Saint John's senior third baseman Joe Becker went 4-for-6 with three home runs and became the program's all-time leader in career hits and runs scored as the Johnnies earned a doubleheader sweep at St. Olaf – 6-3 and 15-4 in seven innings – on Tuesday, April 15.

A two-run homer, Becker's second of the day, in the second inning of game two enabled him to break both records in the same batted ball. He now has 161 runs scored and 211 hits to go along with his other school records in doubles (47), home runs (31), RBI (166) and total bases (373). Becker (New Prague, Minn.) finished with four RBI, four runs scored and walked three times as SJU (18-10, 8-2 MIAC) batted .393 (24-for-61) with nine extra-base hits (five homers and four doubles) on the afternoon.

Game 1 – Saint John's 6, at St. Olaf 3
The Johnnies found the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning with junior right fielder Brendan Hemr (Blaine, Minn./Centennial) doubled off the center-field fence to score sophomore left fielder Alex Matchey (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) from second base.

The Oles tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning, but SJU answered with two runs in the next at-bat. Sophomore designated hitter Zach Helfmann (St. Louis Park, Minn.) recorded a leadoff single, Matchey reached when his sacrifice-bunt attempt turned into a hit and Hemr loaded the bases with an infield single. Senior second baseman Ryan Janzen (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) gave the visitors the lead with a sac fly in the ensuing at-bat before junior center fielder Owen Amrhein (Waconia, Minn.) doubled in another run.

Becker hit his first homer of the day to make it 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning, though STO responded with two runs to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom half.

SJU pulled away with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Amrhein singled to start the sixth and eventually scored on a wild pitch, while Janzen executed a safety-squeeze bunt for the game's final run in the seventh.

Senior Connor Hartley (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount) went the distance, allowing the three runs (two earned) on four hits. He struck out four and walked one. Six of his 21 outs came on the first pitch.

Hemr finished 3-for-3 at the plate, while Amrhein, Becker and Helfmann posted two hits apiece.

Game 2 – Saint John's 15, at St. Olaf 4 (7 inn.)
Junior shortstop Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) started the scoring right away in game two when he blasted the first pitch of the game for his second home run of the season. The spark carried over to the second inning where the Johnnies erupted for six runs on six hits.

Amrhein stroked his second RBI double of the day to start the second inning's scoring and another crossed the plate via wild pitch before senior catcher Blake Mellgren (Northfield, Minn.) launched a two-run shot for his second homer of the season. Marquardt singled and Becker blasted his record-breaking homer two batters later.

SJU plated a pair of runs with two outs, thanks to an RBI double from Helfmann and an RBI single from Matchey, in the fourth inning and tacked on three more to make it 12-0 in the fifth.

The Oles erased the shutout with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The Johnnies added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning which proved to be pivotal for the 10-run rule as the Oles scored two in the bottom half of the frame before the final out was recorded.

Senior Will Fazio (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake) improved to 4-1 on the season with the win after he allowed one run on seven hits in five innings of work.

Senior Kade Bowar (Burnsville, Minn.) surrendered three runs (one earned) on six hits in two innings of relief.

SJU took advantage of 11 walks and two hit batsmen (Janzen) in the nightcap and was led by Amrhein, Becker, Marquardt and Mellgren with two hits each. Mellgren drove in four.

The Johnnies continue their road stretch with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Bethel this Saturday, April 19, in Arden Hills.