MINNEAPOLIS – The Gustavus Adophus baseball team suffered a sweep at the hands of Augsburg College on Saturday afternoon at Parade Stadium. The Auggies defeated the Gusties 4-2 in game one, and 7-5 in game two to come away with the sweep. Gustavus drops to 6-11 overall and 2-2 in the MIAC, while Augsburg improves to 10-10 overall and 3-3 in the MIAC.
GAME ONE: Augsburg 4 def. Gustavus 2
Game one of the doubleheader proved to be a pitching battle, as both teams’ starters combined to pitch 12 innings and give up just two earned runs. Grant Soderberg (Sr., Eden Prarie, Minn.) was on the hill for the Gusties and pitched yet another gem for Gustavus as he went the distance, giving up just three hits, no earned runs and struck out three. However, four Gustie errors allowed four Augsburg runs which proved to be the difference in the game.
With Gustavus holding a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth inning, Soderberg retired the first two Auggie batters via fly ball to Gustie center-fielder Garrett Fuchs (Sr., Cold Spring, Minn.). He then walked Augsburg’s Scott Livermore and Tyler Buescher before Billy Brookshaw reached on a Gustie fielding error to allow Livermore and Buescher to advance to second and third. Then, Gordan Kappers singled to bring home Livermore and Buescher (unearned) and Brookshaw scored later in the inning on a wild pitch, giving Augsburg all it needed to close out the game.
Auggie starter Tanner Oakes kept Gustavus in check all game, as he pitched six innings, allowing just seven hits, struck out seven and walked two.
GAME TWO: Augsburg 7 def. Gustavus 5
In game two, Augsburg looked to be on its way to an easy sweep when it scored four runs in the second inning and added another in the third and yet another in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead heading into the fifth inning. Gustavus was able to rally however, as it scored a run in the fifth and three in the seventh to cut the Auggie lead to 7-4 headed into the game’s final two innings. The Gusties managed a run in the ninth to bring the score to 7-5, but that would be all Augsburg closer Lincoln Hochmuth would allow as he earned his first save of the season.
Michael Strelow (So., Braham, Minn.) suffered the loss for Gustavus after pitching the first two innings and giving up four runs (three earned) off two hits and five walks.
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Dalton Mattson (So., Princeton, Minn.) went 4-for-6 with two runs scored to lead Gustavus in the doubleheader, while Josh Chatfield (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) had three hits, including a double, with two RBI. Chris Kelly (Sr., Savage, Minn.) and Isaiah Welckle (So., Minneapolis, Minn.) also had notable games for the Black and Gold, as they had two hits and two RBI each for the Gusties.
Gustavus will be back in action on Tuesday when it welcomes the University of St. Thomas to St. Peter for a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m. St. Thomas is currently ranked eighth in the nation in Division III and finished third in the NCAA Division III Championships last season.