Saint John’s University Athletics: SJU Shines with Impressive Road Sweep Against Carleton!

NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Saint John’s baseball team had an impressive day, sweeping a doubleheader against Carleton with scores of 5-3 and 16-5 on Tuesday, April 8.

Saint John’s, now 14-9 overall and 4-2 in the MIAC, capitalized on Carleton’s six errors and 15 free passes (ten walks and five hit batters). Carleton, which had a solid .965 fielding percentage this season, struggled defensively in this matchup.

The games were originally scheduled for April 1 but were postponed due to bad weather.

Game 1 Summary: Saint John’s 5, Carleton 3
The first game was tightly contested. Senior second baseman Ryan Janzen broke the scoreless tie with an RBI triple, bringing in Zach Helfmann. However, Carleton answered back with three runs in the fourth, taking a 3-1 lead.

In the sixth inning, Saint John’s surged ahead with three two-out runs. Alex Matchey’s pinch-hit single and a throwing error from Carleton helped them take the lead for good. Carter Theisen, pitching the entire game, recorded his fourth win, allowing just three runs (two earned) and striking out five.

Game 2 Summary: Saint John’s 16, Carleton 5 (7 innings)
The second game was all about the Johnnies’ offense. Joe Becker started the scoring with an RBI single following a triple. The team then exploded with seven runs in the second inning and added six more in the third.

Helfmann shined here, too, with a bases-clearing double. Hunter Hoen earned the win on the mound, pitching four innings, while Jack Dobesh secured a three-inning save.

Janzen had a standout performance, going 4-for-7 overall with three runs and three RBIs. Becker reached base safely seven times, thanks to four walks, two hits, and a hit-by-pitch.

Looking ahead, the Johnnies will host Hamline at 2:30 p.m. on April 9. That matchup is crucial for both teams, as Hamline seeks to find its rhythm after a slow start in conference play, standing at 5-15 overall and 0-2 in the MIAC.

This win is a boost for Saint John’s as they try to solidify their standing in the league. Recent statistics show that teams with strong defensive records often fare better in competitive play; however, in this case, it was Saint John’s ability to exploit errors that led them to victory.

As sports analysts often note, the ability to capitalize on an opponent’s mistakes can be the difference between winning and losing. It will be interesting to see how the Johnnies continue to develop as the season progresses.

For detailed statistics, you can check the Game 1 Box Score and the Game 2 Box Score.

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