The Gustavus baseball team was defeated by MSU, Mankato 17-3 on Wednesday. The Mavericks are ranked No. 2 in Division II. (Photo courtesy of C.J. Siewert, SPX Sports)
MANKATO, MINN. – The Gustavus Adolphus baseball team was defeated by Division II Minnesota State University, Mankato by a final score of 17-3 in a 9-inning game played on Wednesday afternoon at the MSU Baseball Complex. The Mavericks are ranked No. 2 in Division II. With the loss, Gustavus falls to 6-9 overall, while Minnesota State improves to 15-2.
The Gusties were in a hole from the start, as the Mavericks pounded out seven runs in the first three innings to take a 7-0 lead going into the fourth inning. To begin the top of the fourth, the Gusties’ Josh Chatfield (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) and Garrett Fuchs (Sr., Cold Spring, Minn) reached base on a single and a throwing error by the Maverick’s shortstop, respectively. Then, Joe Melles (Jr., Hopkins, Minn.) singled to bring home Chatfield and later in the inning, Max Fidler (Sr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) reached base on another Minnesota State throwing error, which scored Fuchs and brought the Gusties to within five.
However, the Mavericks roared back in the bottom half of the fourth with four more runs to bring their lead to 11-2 and would never look back, as they held the Gusties to just one run over the remaining five innings and scored six more of their own.
Gustavus used five pitchers in the game, who combined to give up 10 earned runs. Justin Cunningham (Sr., Red Wing, Minn.) suffered the loss for the Gusties after pitching the first two innings and giving up three runs (two earned) and allowing two walks. Gustavus committed five errors in the game, contributing to the Mavericks scoring seven unearned runs out of their 17 total.
The Gusties will return to conference play this Saturday when they head to Minneapolis for a doubleheader with Augsburg College. Game one will begin at 1 p.m. at Parade Stadium.