The Gustavus Adolphus baseball team opened its spring break trip to Phoenix with a doubleheader sweep of Allegheny College. As has been the case in each of the Gusties’ first two doubleheaders, Josh Spitzack threw a gem during a 5-3 win in game one and the Gustie bats took over in game two, completing the sweep with a 9-2 win.
Gustavus (6-0) did not trail in either game, scoring a pair of runs in the second inning of game one before adding a run each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
With the Gusties up 5-0, the Gators started their climb back, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when James Fernandez and Eric Rich hit a double and triple, respectively, before Rich was driven in by a groundout from Matt DeGiovanni.
After holding the Gusties scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Gators continued their rally, adding a run, when Matt Young doubled in Mark Matsko, but came up two runs short as a flyout by Dan Ayer provided the final out of the game.
Drew Scibetta picked up the loss, pitching the entire seven innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out nine and walking none. Rich was 2-for-3 from the plate with a run scored and batted in.
Spitzack moved to 3-0 on the season with a complete game six-hitter. The senior ace walked a pair and struck out three while allowing three runs in the final two innings.
Tony Konicek provided the big shot for the Gusties in game one, launching a home run to right field to lead off the sixth inning. He finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while Ben Sherer picked up a hit in each of his three at-bats.
In the second game, Allegheny was held to five hits, as the Gusties scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning, before the Gators rallied, closing to within one at 3-2, with Fernandez and Brian Schmidt scoring on a throwing error by Gustie shortstop Mike DesLauriers.
Gustavus Adolphus added an insurance run in the bottom of the third inning, before pulling away with a run in the bottom of the fifth and four more in the sixth, giving the Gusties on the scoreboard the 9-2 victory.
Anders Schmidt picked up the win on the mound for Gustavus, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings of work. Schmidt also walked one and struck out five en route to the victory. Spencer Barron pitched the seventh inning, allowing just one hit.
Wade Vrieze finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, a triple and three rbi. Sherer was one of three Gusties to go 2-for-3 offensively, knocking in a pair with a double and a triple. Konicek and Pat Siering also went 2-for-3, with Siering recording a double.
The Gusties continue their Spring Break trip with a Sunday doubleheader against Luther before facing UW-Whitewater in a single game on Monday.
RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational
Link to complete tournament schedule (PDF)
Maps to Greater Phoenix venues