Garrett Fuchs slides into third base on Saturday against Saint John's. Photo courtesy of Laura Westphal - Sport PiX.
St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus baseball team capped off its MIAC season with a pair of losses to Saint John’s University on Saturday afternoon at the Gustie Baseball Field. Gustavus suffered a 6-5 heartbreaker in game one and then struggled to generate offense in a 10-0 loss in game two. The Gusties drop to 6-23 overall and 2-18 in the MIAC, while Saint John’s secures a place in the MIAC Playoffs and is now 21-8 overall and 13-7 in the MIAC.
Game One Recap
After Saint John’s kicked off the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning, Gustavus answered with three runs of its own to grab a 3-2 lead. Josh Chatfield (Fr., Apple Valley, Minn.) scored when Garrett Fuchs (Jr., Cold Spring, Minn.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Taylor Bigandt (Jr., Littleton, Colo.) brought in two runs with a with a single to center field.
The Gusties added a run in the bottom of the second to give them a 4-2 lead. Max Fidler (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) brought the run across with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Saint John’s came roaring back with a run in the top of the fourth and two more in the top of fifth to take the lead up 5-4. Gustavus wouldn’t go away quietly, however, and tied the game at 5-5 when Fuchs scored on a ground ball hit to first base by Dalton Mattson (Fr., Princeton, Minn.).
Not to be outdone, the Johnnies responded with what was the eventual game-winning run in the top of the sixth, bringing the score to a final at 6-5.
Gustavus starter Chris Kelly (Jr., Savage, Minn.) went four and two-thirds, allowing five runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Michael Strelow (Jr., Braham, Minn.) suffered the loss in two and one-third innings, allowing one run on two hits.
Collin Felhaber picked up the win after allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits through six innings. Justin Thompson came in for the save, allowing a hit yet striking out two in his one inning of work.
Taylor Bigandt, Scott Benjamin (Sr., Northfield, Minn.), and David Tranvik (Sr., Robbinsdale, Minn.) led the Gusties at the plate with two hits each. Bigandt was 2-for-4 with two RBI, Benjamin went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run, and Tranvik finished 2-for-3.
Game Two Recap
Gustavus couldn’t get its offense back on track following the day’s opener and managed just five hits in the nightcap.
Saint John’s led 3-0 after four complete before lighting up the scoreboard for six runs in the top of the fifth to go up 9-0. The Johnnies earned the 10-run-rule by tacking on a run in the top of the seventh.
Justin Cunningham (Jr., Red Wing, Minn.) suffered the loss after allowing eight runs on eight hits in four and two-thirds innings. Jake Volness (So., Cokato, Minn.) finished the remaining two and one-third innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits.
After closing out game one, Justin Thompson earned the complete-game victory in game two. He shut out the Gusties on five hits and struck out nine in the process.
The Gustavus baseball team will finish the 2014 season with a non-conference doubleheader against St. Olaf on Monday, May 5 at 3:30 p.m. at the Gustie Baseball Field.