The Gustavus baseball team completed its regular season by winning two non-conference games from Finlandia University by the scores of 13-1 and 10-0. The Gusties will play Concordia in the MIAC Playoffs on Friday.
It was a record breaking day for Gustavus as the team broke the school record for wins in a season with their 26th and 27th wins. The previous record was 25 set in 2002. Individually, freshman Tony Konicek broke the record for hits in a season with 65. Konicek recorded two hits in game one to tie the record of 64 set by Brad Mazer in 2002 and then broke the record with one hit in game two.
Gustavus continued its red-hot hitting as the team pounded out 22 hits and scored 23 runs in the doubleheader.
In game one, the Gusties jumped on the Lions early scoring five runs in each of the first two innings to take a 10-0 lead. Bryant Rogness, Tony Konicek and Ash Larsen all recorded two hits for the Gusties. Aaron Madson drove in four runs for Gustavus. Jake Hauck pitched four and two-thirds innings striking out ten of the 20 batters he faced and scattering four hits. The game was shortened to five innings by the ten run rule.
In game two, Coach Mike Carroll’s squad led 2-0 after one, and 3-0 after two. The Gusties blew the game open with four runs in the third and three more in the fourth to push the lead to 10-0. Ben Sherer went 2-for-3 with three rbi and Aaron Madson went 2-for-2 with two rbi to lead Gustavus. Ricky Sabo (1 inn.), Matt Musta (3 inn.) and Andy Schmidt (1 inn.) combined for the five-inning shutout. Finlandia could manage only two hits against Musta and one against Schmidt in the game.
Gustavus will now turn its attention to the MIAC Playoffs which begin on Friday. The Gusties will play Concordia at Sechler Park in Northfield at 3:00 pm. The winner will advance to play the winner of the St. Thomas/St. Olaf game on Friday at 7:00 pm in Dundas. The loser will drop to the consolation bracket. That game will also take place at 7:00 pm, however it will be played at Sechler Park in Northfield.