A season defined by dominance
Saint John's University finished the MIAC regular season third with a 13‑7 record, yet the Johnnies topped the conference in earned‑run average and opponent batting average, underscoring a pitching staff that proved difficult to crack.
At the center of that success stood freshman Max Edwards, who etched his name into league history by capturing both Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same season — a first in MIAC annals. Edwards also paced the circuit with shutouts and ranked second in ERA while maintaining a stingy opponent batting average.
Joining Edwards on the All‑MIAC first team were Brendan Hemr, Hunter Hoen, Matthew Magnuson and Dylan Bloom, while Alex Matchey and Will Koeppen earned honorable‑mention recognition. Reed Marquardt and Vinny Schleper were selected to the MIAC All‑Playoff squad, reflecting the depth of talent across the roster.
Hemr led the Johnnies with home runs, runs scored and slugging percentage, whereas Hoen made a team‑best ten starts and posted a 5‑1 record. Magnuson placed third in the conference for opponent batting average, and Bloom went 2‑0 with a 3.10 ERA in league innings. Matchey topped the team in batting average, hits and triples, and Koeppen broke the program’s single‑season walk record while leading in batting average and hits. Marquardt drove in the most runs, doubles and extra‑base hits, and Schleper closed out four games, finishing 2‑0 with a tidy save total.
The achievements were amplified by the broader conference landscape, which includes institutions such as Saint John's, St. Olaf College, Bethel University, Macalester College and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, each contributing to a competitive MIAC environment.
With the season now in the books, the Johnnies look ahead to building on a foundation that blends veteran leadership with emerging talent, promising continued excitement for fans and prospects alike.