Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
ST. ANTHONY, Minn. – Saint John’s stayed in the hunt for the MIAC title and a conference tournament berth with a split of Hamline on Saturday, May 1, in St. Anthony. The Johnnies (19-16, 12-6 MIAC) scored five runs in the fifth inning to win 7-6 in game one, but allowed the game-tying run in the seventh before losing game two, 7-6 in eight innings.
SJU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game one thanks to a two-RBI single from freshman third baseman Max Forster (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins). Hamline (15-21, 8-8 MIAC) answered with four runs in the second and one more in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead before the Johnnies’ big fifth inning.
Sophomore designated hitter Bert Marsnik (Annandale, Minn.) blasted a three-run homer in the fifth, his second of the season, followed by RBI-singles from juniors Joe Eiden (Maple Grove, Minn./Totino-Grace) and Brian Skluzacek (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori).
Senior Matt Johnson (Eagan, Minn.) allowed five runs, three earned, in four innings. Junior Brett Kramer (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) entered in the fifth, allowed one run and earned the victory. Sophomore Hayden Zimmerman (New Richmond, Wis.) pitched a scoreless seventh innings for his fifth save of the season.
Junior shortstop Matt Butorac (Maple Grove, Minn.) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Marsnik, Skluzacek and senior first baseman Kyle Henkemeyer (Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) added two hits apiece.
SJU answered Hamline's first-inning run with two runs in the second and four more in the third to take a 6-5 lead into the fourth. Marsnik and senior third baseman Michael Carr (St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo) tallied three hits each, while Skluzacek and junior outfielder Matt Boys (Eden Prairie, Minn./Minnetonka) collected two RBI apiece.
Zimmerman allowed six runs, the most for any outing this season, in seven innings of work. Freshman Connor Cline (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) struck out the first batter he faced before allowing a single, wild pitch and the game-winning single to take the loss.
The Johnnies are idle this Wednesday, May 5, before hosting Gustavus Adolphus this Saturday, May 8, in the regular-season finale. The doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Saint John’s Field in Collegeville.