The Gustavus Adolphus College baseball team opened its Spring trip to Chandler, Ariz., Thursday evening with a doubleheader sweep over UW-Whitewater. Gustavus took game one 10-9 with a Nate Ruff RBI in the bottom of the seventh and completed the sweep with a rain-shortened 4-0 win in five innings.
The Gusties started with the hot bats in game one. Gustavus scored four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead. The Warhawks battled back with a six-run fifth inning to lead 8-4, but Gustavus knotted the score at 8-8 with four runs in their half of the frame. The Gusties took a 9-8 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth only to see UW-Whitewater post a run in the top of the seventh inning to draw even at 9-9. Gustavus emerged with the victory in their final at-bat as Nate Ruff knocked in the winning run.
Tyler Kaus and Tony Konicek each went 3-for-4 to lead the Gusties. Kaus rapped a pair of triples, while Konicek added a double and a RBI. On the mound, Kraig Olson pitched 4 2/3 innings but left without a decision. Charlie Cicalello picked up the win in relief.
Gustavus took a rain-shortened game two 4-0 in five innings. The Gusties plated the game-winning run in the fourth inning without recording a hit. Gustavus’ leadoff batter walked, moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt, then scored on a groundout. Konicek added a three-run home run in the fifth inning to cap the scoring.
Gustavus Adolphus continues play at the RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational with a doubleheader against the University of Southern Maine Friday afternoon, March 23. First pitch for game one is 2 p.m. CDT (noon MST).
Information from UW-Whitewater contributed to this release.