Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Saint John's baseball split its doubleheader at second-place Macalester on Tuesday, April 21.

SJU (17-12, 8-6 MIAC) mustered only four hits and suffered a 3-2, walk-off loss in the opener but responded with 11 hits – including eight for extra bases (seven doubles and a home run) – for a 10-2 victory in the nightcap and the split. 

Game 1 – at Macalester 3, Saint John's 2
Macalester (23-11, 12-4 MIAC) totaled three runs on seven hits to hand freshman Max Edwards (Rockford, Minn.) his first loss of the season (5-1 record). Edwards struck out six and walked four in 6.1 innings.

A leadoff walk stole second and scored on a two-out single for the Scots in the bottom of the first inning.

The Johnnies tied the game on a sacrifice fly from junior center fielder Riley Schwellenbach (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) in the top of the fifth inning, but Nathan Gumagay launched a solo homer down the left-field line.

Senior third baseman Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) reached on a fielding error by the left fielder with one out in the top of the seventh inning and junior catcher Mason McCurdy (Lake Elmo, Minn./Stillwater Area) evened the score at 2-2 with a double in the next at-bat, but was stranded at second.

The Scots recorded a one-out single and walk before Niko Alexander ripped the first pitch he saw down the left-field line for the walk-off RBI. 

Game 2 – Saint John's 10, at Macalester 2
SJU gained its first lead of the day in the top of the second inning after junior designate hitter Will Wareham (Lakeville, Minn./North) and Marquardt both doubled to start the frame and McCurdy followed with an RBI groundout.

Matchey led off the fourth inning with his second double of the game and Marquardt blasted a two-out, two-run shot to right field for a 3-0 lead. The long ball was his second of the season and sixth of his career.

The visitors tacked on two unearned runs – a sacrifice fly from junior first baseman Justin Brooks (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) and a balk – in the top of the fourth inning. 
MAC erased the shutout on a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Johnnies broke the game open with five runs in the top of the seventh. Four of SJU's first five batters reached and the Johnnies nearly batted around. McCurdy cracked a two-run double, scoring senior right fielder Brendan Hemr (Blaine, Minn./Centennial) from second and Marquardt from first. The throw beat Marquardt to the plate, but he maneuvered his arm to avoid the catcher.

Schwellenbach advanced two runners with a sac bunt and Koeppen walked to load the bases for a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double from junior Tanner Hoemann (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View).

Macalester scored the final run with another two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Junior Hunter Hoen (Belle Plaine, Minn.) improved to 3-1 with the win, allowing the two runs on nine hits in seven innings of work. He struck out six.

Junior Brady Drkula (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) made his season debut and pitched a hitless eighth inning with a strikeout and junior Carter Theisen (Rosemount, Minn.) closed the game with a scoreless ninth.

Macalester used eight pitchers, who only managed a combined two strikeouts to nine walks, in game two.

Eight of the 11 Johnnies with a plate appearance tallied a hit and 10 of the 11 reached base. Marquardt, Matchey and freshman shortstop Wil Koeppen (Minnetonka, Minn.) had two hits apiece. Marquardt drove in two runs, while Hoemann and McCurdy had three RBI each.

The Johnnies make a brief return to non-conference play by hosting Minnesota-Morris at 5 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Haugen Field at Becker Park.