Box Score
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Saint John's baseball dropped its MIAC Tournament opener to Macalester, 5-4, on Thursday night, May 7, at CHS Field.
The Johnnies (25-15 overall) face top-seeded Bethel (29-9 overall) in an elimination game at noon Friday, May 8, in St. Paul. BU fell to fourth-seeded Saint Mary's 8-6 in 11 innings earlier in the day.
The bulk of the game's scoring came in the first three innings, resulting in a tied score at 4-4.
The Scots (27-14 overall) scored the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Following a strikeout and flyout, Macalester coaxed a hit-by-pitch and walk off freshman
Max Edwards (Rockford, Minn.) before Tristan Lander lifted a bloop single to right field for the go-ahead run.
Mac took advantage of a leadoff walk for an early 1-0 lead on a double off the bat of John McMurray with one out in the bottom of the first inning.
SJU answered with three runs in the top of the second inning thanks to five hits, including four consecutive (three-straight doubles). Senior third baseman
Reed Marquardt (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) started with a single and moved to third on a double down the left-field line from junior first baseman
Justin Brooks (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park). Junior designated hitter
Will Wareham (Lakeville, Minn./North) followed with a two-run double off the left-field fence and senior left fielder
Owen Amrhein (Waconia, Minn.) made it 3-1 with a double off the base of the left-field fence in the ensuing at-bat. The Johnnies, however, left the bases loaded to end the inning.
Macalester answered with three runs, only one of which was earned, in the bottom of the second inning.
Marquardt singled for the second-straight at-bat to start the third inning, took second on a sacrifice bunt from Brooks and scored the game-tying run on an RBI single from Amrhein.
Edwards took the loss (6-2 record) – his second to the Scots – after he allowed the five runs (three earned) on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out five and issued five free passes (three walks and two hit batsmen).
Senior
Vinny Schleper (Shakopee, Minn.) gave up one hit in a scoreless eighth inning of relief.
Jack Nussbaum picked up the win after he pitched the final 7.2 innings in relief for the Scots. He gave up one run on six hits and struck out nine with five walks.
