SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team hosted its final home game of the season and broke the program record for most home runs in a season. Gavin Baker’s (Jr., Lakeville) two run home run in the first inning was the 38th for the Gusties to set a new school best. The Gusties fell to non-conference opponent Crown 8-5 and move to 23-11 overall.
Crown came to play, plating three runs in the top of the first. The Gusties responded accordingly with a two run home run from Baker to cut the Storm lead to a single run before heading into the second inning
In the top of the second, the Gusties handed Crown its first out with a run down and remained locked down on defense to keep the Storm scoreless through the third and fourth.
The Storm tacked on a two run home run to solidify the lead 5-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Baker retaliated for Gustavus with his second home run of the day to cut into the Crown lead.
With bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, the Gusties plated their fourth run off of a walk.
Jacob Prosch (So., Champlin) came in for relief in the seventh and struck out all three batters he faced. Despite the Black and Gold efforts, the Storm left two Gusties stranded before heading into the eighth.
Crown extended their lead to 6-4 before Prosch recorded his fourth strikeout of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Mitch Casperson (So., Le Sueur) hit a double hard to the right field line, scoring Jack Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka) to narrow it to a one run game. The Storm pitcher struck out three Gusties before moving to the final inning.
Crown rallied, plating three unanswered runs in the ninth to hand Gustavus an 8-3 loss.
The Gusties will next play St. Olaf on Saturday with a 1:00 first pitch.