SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team enjoyed the warm temps while they heated their bats up in a non-conference Thursday afternoon game. The Gusties defeated Northwestern 9-2 in game one and 5-0 in game two and improve to 20-6 overall.
Gustavus 9, Northwestern 2 | Box Score
Northwestern made the first move, plating a run in the first inning before an unassisted double play by Gavin Baker (Jr., Lakeville). Drake Siens (So., Rogers) hit the ball deep into centerfield before cruising to third base. Nick Azar (Sr., Edina) made it to first base off a fielders choice, scoring Siens and evening the score to 1-1 after the second inning.
In the top of the third, Mitch Casperson (So., Le Sueur) walked to first and stole second before Bryce Novak (Jr., Cleveland) singled through the left field pocket to put him in scoring position.
Jack Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka) grounded out to score Casperson, bringing it to a 2-1 game. Ethan Mocchi (Sr., Champlin) continued the trend, grounding out to score Novak in the 3-1 lead after three innings.
Both teams locked down on defense for scoreless fourth and fifth innings. Northwestern fired back with a run but it was all Gustie baseball from there.
Erupting in the sixth inning, with runners on second and third Azar hit a two-RBI single into right center field. Dalton Thelen (Sr., Cold Spring) laid down a well placed bunt for a hit, moving Azar to second. A Patrick Timmer (So., Lakeville) single scored Azar for the sixth run. Novak, Hanson, and Mocchi each accounted for an RBI in the 9-2 victory.
Jacob Prosch (So., Champlin) earned the win on the mound.
Gustavus 5, Northwestern 0 | Box Score
Heating things up in the bottom of the first, Hanson hit his team leading eighth home run of the season. After three scoreless innings, the Gusties tacked on an insurance run in the fifth.
Timmer led off for the Gusties in the sixth with a double down the left field line followed by a Logan Bjorkman (Jr., Lindstrom) RBI double for the third Gustavus run. Casperson hit a sac fly to score Thelen before Hanson ended the game with a final RBI single, blanking the Eagles 5-0.
The Gustavus pitching staff retired 17 consecutive batters between the first inning and seventh inning and combined for a shutout, allowing just on hit in the entire game. Jayce Luna (Jr., Le Sueur) earned his third win of the season.
The Gusties are back in conference action when they host Saint Mary’s on Saturday, April 23rd with a 1:00 first pitch.