Connor Norris was rewarded the win on the hill in game two on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of Dan Coquyt `14)
St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus baseball team settled for a split with Macalester College at the Gustie Baseball Field on Tuesday afternoon. The Gusties fell in game one 5-0 before coming back to win game two by the final score of 10-4. Gustavus is now 13-20 overall and 10-8 in the MIAC while Macalester moves to 11-26 overall and 4-14 in the MIAC.
Game 1 – Gustavus 0, Macalester 5
Macalester came out to score a goal in the top of the first inning of game one to take an early 1-0 lead. The Gusties averted disaster in the inning, as the Scots left the bases full. After Ross Bronfrenbrenner singled to center field to lead off the game, Gustavus starter Christopher Kelly (So., Savage, Minn.) got the next batter to fly out before hitting Jimmy Belfont with a pitch and walking Tom Forster to load the bases with only one out. Colin Carpenter flew out to center in the next at-bat that scored Bronfrenbrenner from third to take the 1-0 lead. After Kelly plucked his second batter of the inning, he got a key strikeout to get out of the jam and avoid disaster.
Gustavus threatened in the bottom of the third inning. Max Fidler (So., Lino Lakes, Minn.) singled up the middle to lead off the inning. After Garrett Fuchs (So., Cold Spring, Minn.) reached on a fielder’s choice and Taylor Bigandt (Fr., Littleton, Colo.) singled, a groundout advanced the two runners to second and third with two outs. Gustavus couldn’t capitalize, however, as a popup got Macalester out of the inning.
The Scots came back in the top of the fourth inning to score four runs on just two hits. In the inning, Macalester took advantage a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and two Gustavus errors to put the game out of reach. The Scots extended their lead to 5-0, which is where it would stay, as the Gusties could not mount a comeback.
Scott Benjamin went 3-for-6 on the day with two runs scored.
Gustavus actually held the advantage in the hits category, outhitting Macalester 7-5 in the contest, led by Scott Benjamin (Jr., Northfield, Minn.) and Max Fidler, who each went 2-for-3 in the ballgame.
Kelly was given the loss in the contest after going four innings on the mound. The sophomore gave up five runs on four hits and struck out four, but walked to and hit three batters. Justin Kleschen was awarded the win after throwing a complete game shutout. Kleschen allowed seven hits in seven innings of work.
Game 2 – Gustavus 10, Macalester 4
Gustavus found a way to produce runs in game two. The Gusties scored in each of its first five offensive chances, scoring one run each in the first and second innings, three in the third, two in the fourth and three more in the fifth to account for their 10 runs.
In the third inning, the Gusties scored three runs on two hits while taking advantage of one walk, a hit-by-pitch, and one Macalester error. A pair of triples highlighted the two-run fourth inning, and three hits in the bottom of the fifth helped Gustavus score three more runs.
In the middle of Gustavus’ offensive performance, Macalester sprinkled in a pair of two-run innings in the fourth and fifth, but the Scots could not match the Gusties as the score was stampled final at 10-4 in favor of the Black and Gold.
Connor Norris (Sr., Omaha, Neb.) earned the complete game win after throwing all seven innings and giving up four runs on five hits while striking out seven. Nick Sia suffered the loss for Macalester after pitching three innings in relief and giving up five runs on five hits.
The Gusties again held the advantage offensively, outhitting the Scots 8-5, led by Tim Miller (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) who turned in a 2-for-3 performance in the box.
Gustavus will conclude its regular season with a twin bill in St. Paul against Augsburg tomorrow afternoon. That doubleheader will take place on the campus of Concordia University-St. Paul at 2:30 p.m.