Box Score
INDIANOLA, Iowa – Saint John's baseball dropped its series opener at Simpson, 5-4, on Saturday, March 7.
The Johnnies (2-2 overall) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth inning but proceeded to go down on strikes on six-straight pitches to end the game.
SJU batted 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-9 with two outs in the loss.
The series wraps up with a doubleheader at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 8. The three-game series was originally scheduled for a doubleheader today and a single game on Sunday, but the schedule flipped due to field conditions.
The Storm (3-1 overall) took advantage of two errors for the game's first run, unearned, in the first inning and tacked on two more in the second for a 3-0 lead.
The score held until the top of the seventh inning when junior
Justin Brooks (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) slapped a pinch-hit, two-run single with two outs.
Simpson responded, however, with a single run in the bottom half of the inning to gain a 4-2 cushion.
Freshman shortstop
Will Koeppen (Minnetonka, Minn.) and junior catcher
Mason McCurdy (Lake Elmo, Minn./Stillwater Area) singled to start the eighth inning and senior third baseman
Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) walked with one out to load the bases. Junior second baseman
Alex Matchey (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) followed with a ground ball to the third baseman, who attempted the force-out at home but the throw missed the mark and two runs scored to tie the game.
The Storm again, however, answered with what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Junior pinch-hitter
Will Wareham (Lakeville, Minn./North) was hit by a pitch to start the ninth inning and his pinch runner, senior
Owen Amrhein (Waconia, Minn.), advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior center fielder
Riley Schwellenbach (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) in the next at-bat. Koeppen walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch before McCurdy was intentionally walked to load the bases. Simpson's Dylan Schlee clamped down, however, and struck out the next two Johnnies on three pitches each.
Junior
Carter Theisen (Rosemount, Minn.) allowed four runs (three earned) in the no-decision. He allowed nine hits and struck out three (to two walks) in seven innings.
Sophomore
Ben Rudser (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) took the loss, allowing the deciding run on three hits.