The Gustavus baseball team scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and beat Saint Mary’s 10-5 in the first game of a MIAC doubleheader played in St. Peter on Monday afternoon. In the second game, Gustavus was trailing 7-1 in the bottom of fourth inning when the game was suspended due to heavy rain. When and where the second game might be made up has not been determined at this time.
In game one, Saint Mary’s jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a single by Kyle Ryan and doubles by Brady Knudsen and Andrew Warren. The Gusties got on the board in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run by Shea Roehrkasse. In the bottom of the third, Gustavus took the lead when Nate Ruff singled to drive in Andrew Woitas and then Mike DesLauriers hit a deep fly ball to left field that allowed Tory Herman to tag and score from third base giving the Gusties a 3-2 lead. The Cardinals came right back and scored a single run in the top of the fourth to tie the score at 3-3. Gustavus answered right back in the bottom of the fourth scoring twice to take a 5-3 lead. In the top of the sixth inning, Saint Mary’s scored twice to tie the score at 5-5. Once again the Gusties answered the challenge scoring five times in the top of the inning to take a commanding 10-5 lead. Andrew Woitas drove in two runs with a clutch single in the bottom of the sixth giving the Gusties the lead for good at 7-5. Spencer Campion gave the Gusties some breathing room with a bases loaded double that drove in three runs to extend the lead to 10-5. Adam Bren pitched five solid innings for Gustavus allowing two earned runs and scattering four hits. Ryan Michaelis entered in the sixth inning and recorded two outs and then Charlie Cicalello entered the game and recorded the final five outs. Cicalello was credited with the victory.
In game two, Saint Mary’s dropped in a couple of hits early in the contest and took an early lead. The Gustie bats meanwhile went silent allowing the Cardinals to take a 5-1 lead through two innings. Saint Mary’s led 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning when the threatening skies broke open and dropped a heavy dose of cold rain on the field forcing the umpire to suspend the game with Gustavus trailing 7-1. A discussion between the two coaches in conjunction with the MIAC on Tuesday will lead to an announcement on how and where the game will be completed.