The Gustavus Adolphus baseball team opened its season with a doubleheader split with Bethany (Kan.) Sunday evening at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The Gusties took game one 7-6, but fell in the late game 4-2. Nate Ruff finished 4-for-7 with three runs scored on the evening.
Game One — Gustavus 7, Bethany (Kan.) 6
The Gusties picked up seven runs in the first two innings and then held on to take game one by a 7-6 score. After striking the first two batters of the game, Gustavus starting pitcher Dave Wold gave up a triple that bounced off the infamous “baggie” in right center field. The Gusties managed to get out of the jam, though, as Ben Schmidt grounded back to Wold to end the inning.
Gustavus notched their first run of the season in the bottom of the first as Ruff led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Mike DesLauriers. Tony Konicek followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Ruff and give Gustavus a 1-0 lead. The Gusties extended their lead to two runs as Shea Roehrkasse singled in DesLauriers with a hard shot to shortstop.
The Swedes got a run back in the top of the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of Gustavus errors. Tyson Povey reached on a fielding error by Tony Konicek and scored on a throwing error by Wold on a bunt attempt by Keenan Dukes. Bethany catcher Joel Sundquist gave the Swedes a 3-2 lead with a home run just over the left field fence that also drove in Dukes.
Gustavus posted five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 7-3 lead. Jake Bohnen scored on a DesLauriers single through the left side to tie the game at 3-3, while Konicek drove Ruff in with a RBI single to center field in his next at bat. After Konicek and DesLauriers advanced to second and third bases, respectively, courtesy of a balk by the Swedes pitcher, a Roehrkasse sacrifice fly advanced both runners, scoring DesLauriers to put the Gusties up 5-3. Siering then reached on an error, which allowed Konicek to score. The final Gustavus run of the inning came as Siering scored on a RBI triple by Tyler Kaus.
Bethany picked up a run in the top of the third inning as Povey singled through the left side, scoring Hutfles from second base. The Swedes cut the Gustavus lead to 7-5 in the fourth inning as Shaun Ravenscraft sent Andrew Hoffer’s first pitch in to the seats in center field. Hoffer settled down and struck out the next two batters before allowing a single to Charles Brown. Brown stole second to get into scoring position but was stranded as Eric Lehner struck out looking to end the inning.
Bethany made it 7-6 on the final play of the game as Andy Spirek scored on a Dave Huftles RBI fielder’s choice.
DesLauriers led the way for the Gusties in game one, going 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Nate Ruff went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Konicek and Roehrkasse each went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Pat Siering, Tyler Kaus, Robby Wiens, and Jake Bohnen were also 1-for-3 at the plate. Gustavus starting pitcher Dave Wold pitched three innings, allowing four runs on three hits (one earned) and striking out four. Relief pitcher Andrew Hoffer tossed the final four innings to pick up the win, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out four.
The Swedes (9-6) were led by Ravenscraft and Sundquist who each finished 1-for-3 with a homerun. Hutfles was also 1-for-3 for Bethany with a run-scoring triple. Chris Atkins, who took the loss on the mound, was charged with six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. Tyson Povey pitched the final 4 2/3 innings, holding the Gusties to one run on three hits while striking out three and walking four.
Game Two — Bethany (Kan.) 4, Gustavus 2
Game two was a defensive struggle early on. The Gusties took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Pat Siering scored on a passed ball. Siering had opened the inning with a single through the left side and moved to third on a double by Tyler Kaus to right field. Gustavus had an opportunity to add to the lead later in the inning, but Kaus was tagged out at home trying to score after a ball got away from Bethany catcher Joel Sundquist.
The Swedes tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single to center field by Casey Getzelman that scored pinch runner Colten Jensen. Jensen was running for Sundquist, who had doubled on a sky-high pop-up that dropped into the Gustavus infield. Andy Spirek doubled to left field later in the inning, giving Bethany another runner in scoring position, but he was thrown out at home by Robby Wiens trying to score from second on a single by Keenan Dukes.
Gustavus retook the lead in the top of the sixth as Nate Ruff scored on a Pat Siering sacrifice fly. Ruff led off the inning with a single to second base and advanced to second on a Mike DesLauriers single through the left side. A single by Tony Konicek loaded the bases and Shea Roehrkasse popped up to second base for the first out before Siering’s pop out to right field.
Bethany answered back with three tallies in the bottom half of the frame. Hutfles tied the score on a Sundquist RBI double to left after opening the inning with a single. The Swedes added two more runs on a single down the left field line that scored Sundquist and pinch runner Kostantine Aninias.
Swedes pitcher Silvester Hernandez threw a complete-game eight-hitter allowing two runs while striking out four Gusties. Gustie starter Kraig Olson pitched three innings of one-hit ball before being lifted in favor of Brandon Knoll. Knoll threw the final three innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and was tagged with the loss.
Ruff and Konicek each finished with two hits for the Gusties in game two, while Siering finished 1-for-2 at the plate with a RBI and a run scored. Getzelman led the Swedes going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Gustavus will continue its season Sunday, March 11 at the Metrodome with a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader against Luther.