Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's baseball opened a seven-game homestand with a non-conference split with Northwestern (Minn.) on Tuesday, April 28, at Haugen Field at Becker Park.

The Johnnies (21-13, 10-6 MIAC) batted 1-for-15 with runners on base, including 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, in a 6-2 loss in the opener. The Eagles' (17-18, 12-3 UMAC) six runs scored reached via free pass or error: one fielding error, one hit batsmen and four walks. The home team bounced back, however, with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to erase a 4-2 deficit and win the nightcap, 7-4.

Game 1 – Northwestern 6, at Saint John's 2
Freshman shortstop Will Koeppen (Minnetonka, Minn.) started the bottom of the first inning with his third double of the season and scored, unearned, on an error.

UNW tied the game with a two-out double in the third inning and gained the lead with an unearned run in the fourth. Two walks came around to score for a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning before SJU cut it to 4-2 in the bottom half of the frame. Junior center fielder Riley Schwellenbach (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) singled and moved to second base on a throwing error (failed pickoff attempt) and scored on Koeppen's second hit of the game. 

Two more walks came round to score in the top of the seventh inning for Northwestern to end the scoring.

Senior Jack Dobesh (Edina, Minn.) took the loss after he allowed an unearned run in the fourth inning. 

Junior Brady Drkula (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) made his first start of the season (fourth of his career) and allowed two hits with two strikeouts over the first two innings.

Game 2 – at Saint John's 7, Northwestern 4
SJU jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of manufactured runs in the bottom of the second inning. Junior designated hitter Mason McCurdy (Lake Elmo, Minn./Stillwater Area) walked and senior third baseman Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) followed with his ninth double of the season. 

Junior first baseman Justin Brooks (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) plated McCurdy with an RBI groundout and junior catcher Will Wareham (Lakeville, Minn./North) lifted a sacrifice fly to right for the two-run advantage.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Northwestern tallied four runs thanks to a four-straight hits, including a leadoff home run, in the top of the fourth inning.

The score stood until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Johnnies totaled five runs, of which only one was earned. McCurdy reached on a throwing error by the catcher and Marquardt poked a single through the left side of the infield. A wild pitch advanced both runners and Brooks made it a 4-3 deficit with another RBI groundout. 

Freshman catcher Reid LaFrenz (Edina, Minn.) was hit by a pitch and senior left fielder Owen Amrhein (Waconia, Minn.) tied the game with a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt from freshman shortstop Dawson Franke (Golden Valley, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) moved the baserunners to second and third before Schwellenbach gave the lead back to SJU with two-out, two-run single. Senior right fielder Brendan Hemr (Blaine, Minn./Centennial) added an insurance run with an RBI single in the next at-bat.

Junior Carter Theisen (Rosemount, Minn.) picked up the win (2-2 record) after he pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. He gave up one hit and struck out four.

Senior lefty Noah Jensen (St. Cloud, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) made his first collegiate start (12th appearance) and allowed four runs on six hits in the first 3.1 innings.

Marquardt went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead SJU with a 3-for-6 performance on the day. Schwellenbach went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases.

The Johnnies return to MIAC play by hosting Carleton (9-22, 6-10 MIAC) at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, April 29) in Collegeville. SJU can clinch its 16th-consecutive MIAC Tournament appearance with one win in its last four conference games.