The Gustavus baseball team rallied to score two runs with two outs in the top of the 13th inning to defeat Bethel 4-2 to salvage a series split with the Royals on Saturday. Bethel prevailed in the first game 3-0 as the Gusties managed just four hits. In game one, Brandon Knoll was the hard-luck pitcher in the loss, while Cody Sukalski worked 11 innings in a pitching gem in game two. Tory Herman pitched two scoreless innings in relief to record the second game win. Gustavus moved to 12-12 overall and 5-3 in the MIAC, while Bethel reached 14-12 overall and 6-4 in conference play.
The Royals mounted a rally with two outs in the bottom of the first inning as Bob Tokar delivered a two-RBI single to give Bethel a 3-0 lead. Gustie starting pitcher Brandon Knoll settled into a rhythm in the second inning as he finished the game allowing four hits in the last five innings. However, Gustavus was unable to provide any run support. Coach Mike Carroll’s squad threatened to score in the top of the second and sixth innings as two runners were on base with one out. In each situation, the Gusties were unable to get the timely hits to drive in the runners.
Spencer Campion accounted for two of the four Gustavus hits as the Royals’ Travis Adams hurled the complete-game shutout. Brandon Knoll suffered the loss despite going six innings and giving up seven hits for three runs. He recorded two strikeouts and walked three batters.
The Gusties got on the scoreboard right away in the second game of the twinbill when Andrew Woitas scored on a single by Tory Herman to right field in the top of the first inning. Woitas crossed home plate again in the next inning when he hit his first home run of the season over the right field fence to give Gustavus a 2-0 lead. Bethel evened the score at 2-2 after it tallied a run in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. Neither offense was able to get rallies going to break the tie until the Royals put runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out. Gustie pitcher Cody Sukalski rose to the challenge as he registered two strikeouts to send the game into extra innings.
Bethel and Gustavus each had scoring opportunities in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, but the opposing defenses turned ground ball double plays to end the threats. Mike DesLauriers started a Gustie rally in the 13th inning when he drew a two-out walk. Gustavus rattled off three straight hits as Taylor Fish and Nate Ruff each drove in a run to put the Gusties ahead 4-2. The Royals mounted a charge in the bottom of the 13th, but Pete Anderson was gunned down at the plate as Gustavus hung on for the 4-2 win.
Andrew Woitas and Tory Herman were the only Gustie hitters to register multi-hit games as Woitas went 2-for-6, scored two runs, and had one RBI and Herman was 3-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI. Cody Suklaski worked 11 innings on the mound as he scattered 10 hits and gave up two runs. He also struck out 10 batters and walked three. Herman earned the win as he pitched two scoreless innings and gave up two hits.
Gustavus returns to action against Carleton on Wednesday in Northfield with the first pitch being thrown at 2:30 p.m.