The Gustavus baseball team pounded out 27 hits as it broke out of its offensive slump to post a doubleheader sweep over Macalester by the scores of 11-3 and 8-6 on Thursday in St. Peter. Spencer Campion had a big day at the plate for the Gusties as he went 4-for-7, scored four runs, drove in five runs, and hit the game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two to help Gustavus earn the sweep. Brandon Knoll earned the win in the first game by going the distance on the mound, while Derek Eddie picked up the victory in relied in the second game. The Gusties improved to 17-19 overall and 9-9 in the MIAC.
The Scots struck right away in the first inning as they posted two base hits to produce the game’s first run. Gustavus started its half of the inning with the bases loaded after Macalester’s starting pitcher issued a pair of walks and hit a batter. Alan Woitas and Spencer Campion delivered consecutive two-run doubles to put the Gusties ahead 4-1 with no outs. By the end of the first inning, Gustavus added two more runs to take a 6-1 lead.
The Scots cut into the lead with two runs in the third inning, however after triples by Tory Herman and Campion and a single by Alan Woitas in the fourth the Gusties put two more runs on the scoreboard in the fourth. Matt Morgan put an exclamation point on the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when he blasted a towering solo home run over the left field fence as Gustavus walked away with an 11-3 victory.
Alan Woitas and Spencer Campion each went 3-for-4 from the dish and drove in three runs, while Woitas crossed home plate three times and Campion touched home twice. Nate Ruff and Greg Lane also recorded multiple hit games as each player went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Brandon Knoll threw a complete game as he allowed three runs on six hits, while striking out four and walking one.
In the second game of the twinbill, Macalester tallied four singles in the second inning en route to scoring three runs. Devin English produced the key hit of the frame with a two-run single to left field. Coach Mike Carroll’s squad reduced its deficit to one run after putting two runs on the scoreboard in the third inning as Herman and Andrew Woitas delivered two-out RBI singles. Heading into the bottom of the fifth, Gustavus trailed 6-2 before Cody Sukalski hit a bloop single near the left field line that scored two runs to cut the margin in half at 6-4. The Gusties had runners on second and third in their half of the sixth inning with two outs when Andrew Woitas hit a clutch single to bring home both runners. The rally continued as Spencer Campion roped a two-run home run over the fence in straight away center field to give Gustavus its first lead of the game at 8-6. Derek Eddie did not allow a Scot hit in the top of the seventh to earn the win in relief.
Offensively, Andrew Woitas paced the Gusties with three hits and three RBI. Spencer Campion and Cody Sukalski each drove in a pair of runs as well. Starting pitcher Alan Woitas worked five innings, giving up nine hits resulting in six runs. Eddie improved to 2-3 on the season after pitching two scoreless innings.
Gustavus, which is 17-19 overall and 9-9 in the MIAC, will close out its season at St. Thomas, which is 25-9 overall and 13-5 in league play, on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Gusties are still in the mix for a playoff spot, but need to win at least one game versus the Tommies and receive some help from other teams to earn a berth.