Coupeville grad Ben Etzell (sportin’ the goatee) tossed three no-hit innings Saturday to nab his 10th win as a college pitcher. (Libby Auger photo)
Double digits, baby.
Coupeville grad Ben Etzell tossed three innings of scoreless, no-hit relief Saturday, picking up his 10th win as a college pitcher.
With the former Wolf keeping his squad afloat in a scoreless game, Saint John’s University rallied to win its 13th straight baseball game, knocking off St. Olaf 3-0 on a walk-off home run from center-fielder Max Jackson.
And while the Johnnies had their streak snapped in the nightcap to a doubleheader (they fell 10-3), SJU sits at 29-6 heading into the final day of the regular season.
Saint John’s, which is 14-4 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, plays another doubleheader Sunday, this one against St. Thomas.
Win one of the two games and the Johnnies clinch a share of their first regular-season title since 1998 and earn a bye in next week’s league tourney.
Etzell, who will be honored during Senior Day Sunday, came on in relief of starter Joey Stock with the game scoreless after six.
He whiffed a pair of batters while refusing to give up a hit, and the win evened his season mark at 2-2, while dropping his ERA to a sizzlin’ 1.88.
For his career, Etzell, who began college as a starter before morphing into a relief ace, is 10-4 with eight saves in 49 games.
During his time in Coupeville, he was a three-sport star, going to state as a tennis player and being named the 1A/2A Cascade Conference MVP in baseball after his senior campaign.
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