The Gustavus baseball team opened spring break in Chandler, Arizona with back-to-back losses to Keene State College of New Hampshire. The Gusties dropped game one by the score of 5-4 and game two by the score of 9-3. Pat Siering had a big day at the plate for Gustavus as he went 5-for-6 in the two games with a triple and 3 RBI. The Gusties, who are now 4-4 on the season, will play Middlebury College tomorrow (Saturday) at 12:00 pm (Mountain Time).
Gustavus lost a heartbreaker in game one as Keene State scored the game-winner with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Chad Schnettler pitched very well in relief of Brandon Knoll, but suffered the loss by allowing the run in the bottom of the seventh. The Gusties scored twice in the first inning and twice in the fifth inning, while Keene State scored once in the first, three times in the third, and once in the seventh. Three players recorded multiple hit games for Gustavus including Tyler Kaus (2-for-4, with a SB), Pat Siering (2-for-3, with a triple, and 2 RBI), and Nate Ruff (2-for-3).
Keene State jumped all over the Gusties in game two scoring seven runs in the first three innings before finishing with the 9-3 win. Keene State is currently 9-2 on its spring break trip to Arizona with one doubleheader left on Saturday. Derek Eddie was the starting pitcher for Gustavus and he allowed six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Eddie left after being hit in the ankle with a line drive in the middle of the third inning. Cam Knetsch entered the game in relief of Eddie and pitched the final 4 2/3 innings allowing two earned runs. Siering and Kaus led the way again as Siering was 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Kaus was 2-for-4 with a stolen base.