SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team extended its winning streak to six games Friday with a doubleheader sweep over Concordia. The Gusties won game one 3-2 and then took the nightcap 8-1, improving to 9-8 overall and 4-0 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 3, Concordia 2 | BOX SCORE
Concordia struck first in the opening frame with a run after a walk and consecutive singles. The Cobbers held the one run lead until the third when Chris Knowles (Jr., New Ulm) led off with a line drive homer over the left field fence, his third of the season.
The Guties then took a 2-1 lead in the fourth as Gavin Baker (Sr., Lakeville) hit a one-out single and went to third on a double by Drake Siens (Jr., Rogers). Patrick Timmer (Sr., Lakeville) ensued with a grounder to score Baker.
The Cobbers tied the game in the sixth after a double, passed ball, and sac fly, but the Gusties regained a one-run lead in the bottom half. With two outs and nobody on base, Baker belted a solo shot to the top of the scoreboard for his team-leading sixth homer of the season.
Jayce Luna (Sr., Le Sueur) earned the win after six quality innings, allowing one earned run on six hits with seven strikeouts. Jackson Thielen (Fy., Eden Prairie) earned his first career save with a three-up-three-down seventh.
Baker (2-3, 2 R, RBI, HR), Siens (2-3, 2 2B), and Knowles (2-2, R, RBI, HR) led the team at the plate.
Gustavus 8, Concordia 1 | BOX SCORE
The pitching duo of Adam Biewen (Jr., Golden Valley) and Lane Glaser (Sr., Hutchinson) limited the Cobbers to one run and six hits in game two.
Concordia’s lone run came in the third inning after a leadoff walk, stolen base, wild pitch, and base hit. Biewen, who ended each of the first four innings with a strikeout, settled in and went five frames, allowing one run on four hits and six strikeouts. Glaser took over in the sixth and tossed four scoreless frames with just two hits and three strikeouts.
Gustavus took an early lead in the first after Jack Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka) doubled and scored on a sac fly by Baker. The Gusties went up 2-0 in the second as Nick Azar (Sr., Edina) led off with a single and later scored on a sac fly from Bryce Novak (Sr., Cleveland). Azar scored again in the fourth after reaching on a walk, stealing second, and crossing home on a single by Timmer.
The home squad tacked on three runs in the fifth for a 6-1 advantage. Azar hit a two-run single with the bases load and then Logan Bjorkman (Sr., Lindstrom) scored on a passed ball.
In the seventh inning, Bjorkman and Timmer each hit solo homers to left, their firsts of the season and the Gusties secured the sweep. Timmer led the team at the plate, batting 3-for-3 with a run, two RBIs, a home run, and a walk.
Gustavus continues its home stand tomorrow with another MIAC doubleheader against Macalester. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.