Josh Chatfield played the role of hero with a walk-off against Middleburry.
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Gustavus baseball team experienced both sides of a walk-off game Monday at the Tucson Invitational, first losing 12-11 to Williams before defeating Middlebury 10-9 to move to 3-7 overall.
Gustavus 11, Williams 12 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties couldn’t hold on to a three-run lead in the ninth inning, giving up four runs on four hits, losing in walk-off fashion.
Williams started the scoring in the first inning with three runs on three hits. Gustavus made it a one-run game in the second on a pair of hits. Brock Peterson (So., Cannon Falls, Minn.) singled and advanced on a passed ball. Robert D’Amato (Sr., Lonsdale, Minn.) reached on an error and Peterson scored on a sacrifice fly by Cody Christensen (Sr., Luverne, Minn.). Two batters later, Josh Chatfield (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.) doubled to score D’Amato.
The Gusties took the lead in the third with four runs on five hits and two walks. Dan Carlson (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) doubled in the frame and the Black and Gold received one-baggers from Peterson, D’Amato, Logan Thomas (Jr., Lake City, Minn.), and Chatfield.
Gustavus took a 7-3 lead in the fourth as Dan Carlson scored on a groundout.
Williams responded in the fifth with three runs on two hits, ending Sam Carlson’s (Jr., St. James, Minn.) day on the mound. He lasted four and two-thirds innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Jacob Braun (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) came in relief and struck out the first batter he faced to limit the damage.
Gustavus went ahead 9-6 in the seventh. Peterson and Thomas both singled in the frame as Thomas knocked in both runs.
Ephs answered immediately with a pair of runs in the bottom half on three hits.
The ninth is where things got interesting as the Gusties gained an 11-8 advantage. Chatfield doubled home Christensen and Danny Kimlinger (Sr., Lindstrom, Minn.) for the insurance runs, but Williams had a big reply in the final half inning. Ephs scored four runs on four hits with the game-tying hit coming on a bases-clearing double to end Braun’s day on the rubber. Jacob Volness (Sr., Cokato, Minn.) came in relief to try and send it to extras, but Ephs scored the walk-off on an RBI single.
Peterson was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three runs, an RBI, and a walk. Chatfield also had four hits, going 4-for-6 with three RBI. Dan Carlson (3-5, 2 R) and Thomas (3-5, 3 RBI) also had multiple hits.
Braun suffered the loss in relief, throwing three and two-thirds innings with six runs allowed on seven hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Gustavus 10, Middlebury 9 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties got the sour taste out of their mouth in the next game of the day with a walk-off win of their own. Tied 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth, Thomas led off the frame with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Chatfield.
Middlebury took a 2-0 lead in the opening frame on four hits, but Gustavus starter Casey Lewandoski (So., Fairbanks, Alaska) limited the damage by stranding three runners with a strikeout.
The Gusties responded right away in the bottom half with two runs on a pair of hits. Chatfield doubled, Dan Carlson walked, and both scored on a double by Sam Warner (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn.).
The Panthers regained the lead in the third with a run on one hit and two Gustavus errors. But the Gusties answered big time in the fourth inning with six runs on five hits and a Panther error. Matt Berkner (Fy., Sleepy Eye, Minn.), Dan Carlson, John Lundquist (So., Rochester, Minn.), Peterson, and Thomas all singled in the inning.
Middlebury got four runs back in the bottom half on three hits and a Gustie error. Lewandoski walked off the mound after four and one-third innings, giving way to Kyle Pinke (Jr., St. James, Minn.). Lewandoski finished his day with six runs allowed on 11 hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
The Panthers then tied the game 8-8 in the sixth on a pair of hits. Two scoreless innings went by before Middlebury took a one-run lead in the ninth on one hit and an error, setting up the walkoff victory for Gustavus.
Pinke earned the win after four and two-thirds innings of relief. He allowed one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts. Dan Carlson led the Gusties at the dish, batting 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI. Gustavus rattled the bats for 15 hits.
The Gusties have tomorrow off and finish the Tucson Invite on Wednesday with rematches against Williams and Middlebury.