SAINT PETER, Minn. – Despite an early three-run lead, the Gustavus baseball team took a 6-4 non-conference loss on Wednesday against UW-La Crosse. With the loss, the Gusties move to 22-7 overall.
The Eagles got out to a hot start, hitting a home run in their third at bat of the first inning to gain the advantage.
Gustavus responded in the bottom of the second initiated by an Ethan Mocchi (Sr., Champlin) single followed by a Drake Siens (So., Rogers) triple to even things at 1-1. Nick Azar (Sr., Edina) also tacked on a single to bring in Siens for a 2-1 Gustie lead heading into the third.
In the bottom of the third, Jack Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka) hit his conference leading 11th home run of the season. Siens added on his second RBI of the day in a 4-1 lead after three complete innings. Neither team was able to record a hit in the fourth while Christian Johnson (Sr., Buffalo) only faced four batters in the fifth.
Both teams pulled out defensive stops to keep it scoreless in the sixth before UW-La Crosse plated two runs in the top of the seventh
Sam Baker (Fy., Lakeville) took the mound to provide relief but the Eagles tacked on three more runs, putting the pressure on the Gusties as they trailed 6-4.
Hanson was able to hit a single in the bottom of seventh but both teams settled for a scoreless eighth inning.
The Eagles silenced all three Gusties in the ninth for a 6-4 final.
Gustavus is next in action on Saturday when they host Saint John’s for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.