The Gustavus baseball team fell to 0-8 on the road in MIAC play with 11-7, and 3-2 losses to Augsburg on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Despite out-hitting Augsburg in game one (16-14), errors proved costly as Gustavus let in five unearned runs in the game. After taking a 3-2 lead in game two, Augsburg pitchers Alex Glasenapp and Kristofer Ozga shut the Gusties down by allowing just three hits after the third inning on their way to the sweep.
Gustavus falls to 15-21 overall and 5-13 in the MIAC, while Augsburg stays in the playoff chase, improving to 18-19 overall and 11-7 in the MIAC.
Gustavus took an early 2-0 lead in game one, scoring two runs on four hits in the first inning. Drew Block plated Kyle Rains for the opening run, and Cody Sukalski drew a walk bringing in Andrew Woitas. Augsburg tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning, but Gustavus would answer in the top of the third with a two-run home run by Kevin Roth, giving Gustavus a 4-2 lead.
The wheels came off for Gustavus in the bottom of the third inning, as Augsburg took advantage of a Gustavus error, scoring six runs on five hits to take a 8-4 lead. Gustavus starter Alan Woitas (2-6) went three innings, giving up eight runs (three earned) on ten hits. Augsburg added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Gustavus would score three runs on three hits in the fifth, bringing the score to 11-7. Gustavus threatened in the sixth and seventh innings, yet could not find the big RBI, leaving two runners stranded in each inning.
Augsburg starter Marshall Nelson (6-3) went five innings, giving up seven runs on 13 hits for the win. Gustavus was 16-for-35 at the plate, while leaving a season-high 12 runners on base. Tim Miller was a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish, while Taylor Fish was 2-for-3.
In game two, Gustavus tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by Willy Hanson. The Gusties got the go-ahead run in the top of the third inning when Rains reached on a lead-off single, then scored five batters later on a fielder’s choice. Augsburg took the lead with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to bring the score to 3-2. Adam Seaman got the eventual game-winning RBI with a single that scored John Demgen in the inning.
Cody Sukalski (4-5) had a strong performance yet suffered the loss, going six innings and giving up three runs on eight hits. Augsburg’s Glasenapp (6-5) threw five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits for the win, while Ozga got his third save of the season, giving up no runs and just one hit in two innings. Fish was the top Gustavus hitter of the game, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Gustavus baseball team will wrap up the MIAC season with a doubleheader against Saint John’s in Collegeville, Minn. on Saturday, May 8 at 1:00 p.m.