Mike DesLauriers
Tony Konicek
The Gustavus Adolphus College baseball team improved to 17-9 overall, 11-3 in the MIAC with a doubleheader sweep of Macalester Tuesday in St. Paul. The Gusties took game one 9-5 and game two by a 12-4 margin. Mike DesLauriers (So., Minnetonka, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s) went 7-for-8 with six runs scored on the day. Tony Konicek (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Mayo) finished with four hits, including a triple, to become Gustavus’ all-time leader in both categories.
Game One – Gustavus Adolphus 9, Macalester 5
The Scots took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single down the right-field line by John Simkins. Gustavus responded with a pair of runs in the second as Eric Bigham (Fr., Robbinsdale, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s) scored on a single by DesLauriers and DesLauriers crossed on an RBI single to right field by Robby Wiens (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.).
Three straight Gustie batters reached on hits to open the third inning, but Gustavus was only able to plate one run after having a baserunner caught stealing and hitting into an inning-ending double play. Macalester retook the lead with three runs in the bottom half of third. Simkins hit a two-run home run to right field and Kyle Goerschler hit an RBI triple to center field scoring Allen Combs.
The Scots’ lead would be short-lived, though, as Gustavus posted five runs in the fourth inning to move ahead 8-4. Mike DesLauriers scored on a Nate Ruff (So., Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) RBI single to right field, Wiens crossed the plate on an RBI single by Tyler Kaus (Jr., St. James, Minn.), Ruff scored on an RBI single by Pat Siering (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.), and Kaus and Siering came around on a two-RBI triple down the left-field line by Konicek.
An RBI single by Kaus in the fifth extended the Gustavus lead to 9-4, but the Scots got the run back in the sixth on an RBI single by Simkins.
Charlie Cicalello (Jr., St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) picked up the win in relief for the Gusties after scattering six hits, allowing one run, and striking out a pair in four innings of work. Gustavus starting pitcher Kraig Olson (Jr., Blooming Prairie, Minn.) lasted three innings allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out three.
Kaus and DesLauriers each finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored to lead the Gusties offensively in game one. Kaus also drove in a pair. Siering and Konicek were each 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. The Scots were led by Simkins, who finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored.
Game Two – Gustavus Adolphus 12, Macalester 4
Gustavus got the bats going early in game two as Konicek hit a two-RBI single in the first to score Kaus and DesLauriers and later scored himself on a sacrifice fly by Siering. The Scots cut the advantage to 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double to left field by Cody Ching. The Gusties added four more runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run home run by Kaus to center field. It was Kaus’ first collegiate home run. Adam Wedwick cut the Gustavus lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the second with a three-run home run down the left-field line.
Konicek knocked a two-run home run to left center in the fourth to push the Gustie lead to 9-4 then came through with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to score Kaus. DesLauriers and Shea Roehrkasse (Jr., Jackson, Wyo./Jackson Hole) also added RBI singles in the fifth to give Gustavus a 12-4 lead.
After surviving the first two innings where he allowed four Macalester runs on three hits, Gustavus starting pitcher Brandon Knoll settled down to allow only two hits over the next four innings. Knoll got off to a rocky start in the seventh inning, though, allowing each of the first three batters to reach base, before being lifted in favor of Tory Herman. Pitching with no outs and the bases loaded, Herman ended the Scots rally by inducing a fly-out and a game-ending double play.
Knoll picked up the win to improve to 3-2 on the season, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out seven in six innings of work. The Gusties knocked around Macalester starting pitcher Brad Johnson, who lasted only 1 1/3 innings, tagging him for six runs (four earned) on five hits. Three other Macalester pitchers combined to pitch the final 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits without recording a strikeout.
DesLauriers finished 4-for-4 in game two with four runs scored and an RBI. Konicek provided the big bat, going 2-for-3 while driving in five and scoring three times. Kaus added a 2-for-4 effort with two RBIs and three runs scored. Seven different Scots recorded hits in game two led by Wedwick’s three-run homer in the second.
Gustavus is idle until Saturday when Bethel makes the trip to St. Peter for a league doubleheader. Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the new Gustavus diamond. The Bethel double-dip marks the first of three home doubleheaders in three days for the Gusties. Gustavus will face Buena Vista University Sunday afternoon and Bethany Lutheran College Monday afternoon in nonconference affairs.