SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team completed the three-game series sweep over Carleton on Sunday with a 9-2 win at the Gustie Baseball Field. The Gusties extend their winning streak to 10 games, while improving to 14-1 overall and 9-1 in the MIAC.
Bryce Novak (So., Cleveland) headlined the afternoon by hitting for the cycle with a perfect day at the plate. Novak hit 4-for-4 with two runs, three RBI, a double, triple, home run, and a walk. He also made his first career pitching start and tossed three innings with one run allowed on two hits and three strikeouts to earn the win.
Novak began the day by taking the first pitch he saw over the fence for a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. Cole Pengilly (Sr., Le Sueur) followed with a walk, stole second, and scored on a double down the right field line by Nick Azar (Jr., Edina).
Carleton cut the lead in half with a run in the third inning after a couple singles and a run-scoring groundout.
The Gusties increased their lead to 4-1 in the fourth. Nick Christenson (Jr., Spirit Lake) doubled down the right field line and scored on an ensuing single up the middle by Novak. Ethan Mocchi (Sr., Champlin) reached on an error, allowing Novak to score.
Two more Gustie runs were added in the fifth. Dalton Thelen (Jr., Cold Spring) singled and later scored on a sac fly by Drake Siens (Fy., Rogers). Two batters later, Novak tripled to right center to score Christenson for a 6-1 advantage.
The Knights responded with one run in the sixth after a single, fielder’s choice and an error, but the Gusties blew the game open in the bottom half with three more runs for a 9-2 lead. Azar hit a two-run homer, his second of the season. Chris Knowles (Fy., New Ulm) then singled and later scored on an RBI groundout by Kathan Decker (So., Apple Valley) for the final run of the game.
Adam Biewen (Fy., Golden Valley) threw three innings of relief with one run allowed on three hits and one strikeout. Behind Novak’s cycle, Azar also had a productive day at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with a run, three RBI, two doubles, a home run, and a hit-by-pitch.
Gustavus hosts St. Thomas at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday for its next MIAC doubleheader.