The Gustavus baseball team picked up a doubleheader split against Carleton on Wednesday afternoon in Northfield. The Knights came away with a 6-1 win in the first game, but Andrew Woitas and Kevin Hagen combined to hurl a one-hit shutout in game two to help the Gusties earn the split in a 6-0 decision. Alan Woitas led the squad at the plate as he combined to go for 5-for-9 and scored three runs in both games. Gustavus moved to 13-13 overall and 6-4 in league play, while Carleton went to 12-14 overall and 4-4 in the MIAC.
The Gusties grabbed a quick 1-0 lead after Alan Woitas led off the first game with a double to left field. He went on to score after an error and a wild pitch to score the lone run of the contest for the Gusties. The Knights answered back in the bottom half of the frame when their leadoff hitter recorded a double to start two-run inning for Carleton. The Knights added to the lead in the second when Erik Fabry hit a two-out double to left center field, driving in three runs as the bases were loaded. Carleton held a 5-1 lead at the end of the inning and added its sixth run of the game in the bottom of the fifth.
It was not until its final at-bat that Gustavus threatened to score again. Nate Ruff kept the Gusties alive when he laced a single through the right side of the infield with two outs. The next two batters reached safely as Alan Woitas hit an infield single to the shortshop and Andrew Woitas laid down a bunt for a hit. However, the rally ended with the bases loaded as Carleton won 6-1.
Alan Woitas accounted for three of the Gusties’ eight hits as he went 3-for-4 from the plate and scored the lone run of the game. Starting pitcher Tory Herman went four innings giving up five runs, two of which were earned, on eight hits as his season record fell to 1-2. Derek Eddie compiled two innings in relief allowing two hits and one run to score.
The Gustavus bats came alive in the second game of the doubleheader as the team pounded out 14 hits. Alan Woitas and Mike DesLauriers set the tone when they delivered consecutive hits to start the game. Tory Herman drove in Woitas from third base with a sacrifice fly to left field for the only run of the inning. The Gusties took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning after Spencer Campion, Matt Morgan, and Chad Eul put together three straight singles with two outs. Gustavus added four runs on seven hits over the course of the fourth and fifth innings as it cruised to the 6-0 victory.
Six runs was more than enough support for starting pitcher Andrew Woitas as he only allowed a double in the second inning. Over the course of six innings, he struck out four Carleton hitters and walked two to reach 2-0. Kevin Hagen came on in the seventh inning and shut the door on the Knights as he struck out two of the final three batters.
Offensively, Mike DesLauriers was the top Gustie hitter as he went 4-for-5 with one RBI and a run scored. Alan Woitas, Matt Morgan, and Brandon Boyd posted two hits each, while Tory Herman drove in two runs. Gustavus had the potential to score additional runs, but left 12 baserunners stranded in the game.
Mike DesLauriers became the program’s all-time leader in assists after recording seven assists during the doubleheader after bringing his total to 376. DesLauriers surpassed Joe Thorvig’s mark of 371 assists, which was set in 2002.
Gustavus, which plays its next six doubleheaders at home, will face Hamline on Saturday at 1 p.m.