Zachary Tlusty-
This past weekend, the Gustavus Baseball team traveled to Duluth to square off with northern MIAC rival St. Scholastica for a doubleheader. The weekend started strong as the Gusties played a solid game to win 5-2. In game two, however, both offenses exploded and sadly, the Gusties fell 6-8 to split the doubleheader at a game apiece.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Senior Pitcher (and lefty!) Adam Biewen threw seven innings of two-run ball for the complete game, with only one of those runs allowed being earned. The first two innings of the game were devoid of offense but in the third inning, the Gustavus offense broke through. First-year Outfielder Danny Gavin doubled to left-center and was knocked in on a ground out by Sophomore Catcher Sam Schneider, giving the Gusties a 1-0 lead.
The Saints would tie the game in the fourth inning after a Gustavus error led to a run-scoring single to even the score 1-1. Gustavus would reclaim the lead in the fifth as Senior Infielder Drake Siens hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season for a 2-1 lead. The Gusties tacked on two more runs in the sixth after Schneider singled and would eventually score on a sac fly off the bat of Senior Gavin Baker. Senior Chris Knowles then doubled to right-center, scoring Junior Brady Schmitz, who had also doubled in the inning.
St. Scholastica tallied their second and final run of the game in the bottom half of the sixth after a lead-off triple was cashed in by a single. Making sure that they provided the necessary insurance for their starter in Biewen, Senior Bryce Novak singled home Gavin, who had reached base on a walk.
In the second and final game of the day, Gustavus got on the board in the second frame as Siens hit his eighth home run of the season and second of the day for the early 1-0 lead. Schneider would pick up another RBI on the day as he singled home First-year Brayden Kohls. St. Scholastica found their offensive groove as they answered in the bottom half of the inning before taking on four more runs in the third inning for a 5-2 advantage over Gustavus.
In the fifth inning, the Gusties cut the lead to one as Schmitz singled home Novak and Knowles doubled down the right-field line to score Schmitz. The Gusties then tied the game in the sixth as Gavin scored on a ground out by Schneider, making the new score 5-5.
St. Scholastica regained the lead for the last time in the seventh inning. Getting on runners early in the inning, a pair of singles knocked in three runs for an 8-5 Saints lead. Knowles smacked an RBI double which pushed Baker across the plate, however, this is all that the Gusties could manage in their attempt to rally back. Lefty Pitcher and Sophomore Nick Hentges suffered the loss for Gustavus in his four innings of relief work, although he pitched well allowing just a single run on three hits, and six strikeouts. Knowles led at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, a walk, and two RBI.
When asked how to interpret this result Junior shortstop Brady Schmitz said, “It’s bittersweet. We built some great momentum in the first game, and it was good to get the win, but it really would’ve been nice to win both. I feel like we can learn a lot from this double header, and come back better to face Concordia.” Here in the heat of the baseball season every game counts so the Gusties will look to get some positive momentum rolling that hopefully they can take into the playoffs.
This weekend, the Gusties will look to gain more ground in the MIAC as Concordia comes to town for a Saturday doubleheader. Game one will start at 1:30 p.m. with the second game tentatively set for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.