Strong pitching performances dominated the diamond Thursday as the Gustavus baseball team split a doubleheader with Williams, falling in game one, 7-2, while winning the nightcap, 7-0.
In the first game, Williams first-year Dan Benz improved to 3-0 on the season by pitching a complete-game four hitter. Benz had a shutout until the fifth inning. He finished walking two batters and striking out five.
The Ephs had 12 hits in the victory and scored four times in the second to take a 4-0 lead. Chris Kenney got the inning going with a single. Paul Morgan reached on an error. Ryan Fote singled to load the bases. First-year Kevin Flynn singled home the first run and Martin Green followed with another RBI-single. Captain Mike Overend then hit into a double-play which scored the third run, and James Dicosmo capped the uprising with an RBI-single.
In the third, Sean Gleeson singled and Kenney followed with a two-run home run that made it a 6-1 game. For the Eohs, Flynn went 3 for 3 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Kenney was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Gleeson was 2 for 4 with an RBI and Dicosmo was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
The nightcap belonged to Gusties’ right-hander Anders Schmidt, who threw a four-hit shutout, walking only one and striking out six. The Ephs did not advance a runner to second base until two outs in the top of the seventh when Flynn smacked a double.
Cory Catelli started and got the loss for Williams, going six-plus innings and allowing eight hits and seven runs, four earned, while walking five and striking out three. Senior Matt Brown hurled a spotless inning of relief for the Ephs.
Williams had four hits, one each by Gleeson and Kenney. Flynn went 2 for 3 with that double.
Schmidt hit a two-run home run in a three-run first for the Gusties, who cruised from there.
Gustavus will face Bethany Lutheran Monday, April 3 at Myrum Memorial Field in St. Peter.
(Release courtesy of Williams Sports Infomation)