The Gustavus baseball team scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to earn a 7-4 win in game two of a doubleheader with UW-La Crosse on Tuesday in St. Peter. The Eagles prevailed in game one 15-2. Adam Bren was the winning pitcher in game two for the Gusties. Gustavus moved to 14-16 overall, while UW-La Crosse moved to 17-11 overall.
Chad Eul hit a two-out triple to the gap in right center that rolled to the fence in the bottom of the second inning. He crossed home plate when the next batter, Nate Ruff, ripped a double to the outfield to put the Gusties ahead 1-0. The lead did not last long as the Eagles tallied four runs on five hits in their next at-bat to take a 4-1 lead. Jay Fanta come up with the big hit of the inning as he drove in two runs with a two-out double. Gustavus added another run in the next frame as Mike DesLauriers came around to score after a lead-off single. However, UW-La Crosse tacked on runs in each of the remaining innings to cruise to the 15-2 victory.
Tory Herman suffered the loss on the mound as he pitched an inning of relief giving up four runs on five hits. Coach Mike Carroll used five different pitchers during the game. Mike DesLauriers recorded two of the six Gustie hits and also scored a run.
The Eagles was poised to score in the second game when Josh Weber hit a double to lead off the game. With one out, Willy Hanson threw out Weber at third base on the stolen base attempt to end the scoring threat. Neither team was able to drive in runners from scoring position as the score stood at 1-1 at the end of four innings. However, Gustavus was able to get its offense going in the bottom of the fifth inning as Alan Woitas started a five-run rally with a double to right center field. The next four batters recorded singles as Matt Morgan delivered the key hit of the inning when he ripped a two-RBI single up the middle of the infield. Chad Eul recorded the last run of the inning after Nate Ruff was caught in a rundown between first and second base allowing Eul to score from third.
Trailing 6-1, UW-La Crosse mounted a two-out rally in the top of the sixth as it scored three runs on three hits to cut the margin to 6-4. The Gusties manufactured an insurance run after Andrew Woitas led off the bottom half of the inning with a bloop single just behind the shortstop to put Gustavus ahead 7-4. The Eagles put together one last charge in the final at-bat as they had the bases full of runners with two outs. However, Ryan Michaelis struck out the last UW-La Crosse hitter looking to end the comeback and earn the save.
Adam Bren picked up his first win of the season after giving up two hits and no runs in two innings of relief. Alan Woitas led the Gusties at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance that included two doubles and a run scored. Matt Morgan also drove in two runs, while Chad Eul scored twice.
The Gusties continue their current homestand on Saturday against Augsburg at 1 p.m. in St. Peter.