ST. PETER, Minn. – It was a tale of two stories Wednesday on a cold and blustery day at the Gustie Baseball Field as Gustavus and Saint Mary’s split a MIAC doubleheader. The first game featured a combined 17 runs and 25 hits with the Cardinals winning the shootout 10-7. The second was highlighted by a pitcher’s duel, ending in the Gusties’ favor 3-2. Gustavus moves to 8-8 overall and 1-1 in the MIAC, while the Cardinals are now 13-9 overall and 1-3 in the league.
The Gusties celebrate after a three-run home run by Dan Carlson. (photos by Alex Nadeau, Gustavus Sports Information)
Gustavus 7, Saint Mary’s 10 | BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
The Gusties collected 13 hits in their first conference game of the season, but couldn’t overcome a four-run seventh from the Cardinals. Dan Carlson (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) led the Gusties at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Josh Chatfield (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.) (2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B), Isaiah Welckle (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) (2-4, R, RBI, 2B), and Cody Christensen (Sr., Luverne, Minn.) (2-3, 2 R) also tallied multiple hits.
Connor Kern (Jr., Hutchinson, Minn.) started on the mound and lasted five innings with a no decision. He allowed six runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts. Adam Stockwell (Fy., Apple Valley, Minn.) pitched the sixth and gave up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts. And Jacob Braun (Jr., Wayzata, Minn.) suffered the loss after allowing four runs in the seventh on five hits.
Saint Mary’s took a 3-0 lead in the second frame on two hits and one Gustavus error. The Cardinals added another run in the third on two hits, but the Gusties responded in the bottom half and tied the game. Chatfield and Welckle both singled to start the inning and Carlson came up to the plate and belted a three-run homer over the right field fence. Two batters later, John Lundquist (So., Rochester, Minn.) also took one over the right field fence to tie the game 4-4.
Gustavus took a 6-4 advantage in the fourth on a trio of hits. Christensen singled and scored on a double off the bat of Chatfield. Welckle then traded places with Chatfield with another two-bagger.
Saint Mary’s tied the game in the sixth on a pair of hits and a costly error with two outs, but again the Gusties had an answer in the bottom half with a run to regain the lead. Christensen singled to start the frame and later scored on a Carlson single. But things fell apart for the Gusties in the seventh as the Cardinals put up four runs on five hits for a 10-7 lead, which stood for a final, snapping Gustavus’s five-game win streak.
Gustavus 3, Saint Mary’s 2 | BOX SCORE
After allowing a run in the first inning, Gustie starter Jacob Volness (Sr., Cokato, Minn.) settled down and earned his second win of the season after seven and two-thirds innings of work. He allowed two runs while scattering 11 hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Trailing 1-0 right off the bat, Gustavus tied the game in the bottom of the first as Carlson singled and later scored on a Lundquist single.
Three scoreless innings went by until the Gusties took a 3-1 advantage in the fifth. Welckle and Carlson started the frame with back-to-back singles and Sam Warner (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn.) followed with an RBI single. Lundquist then hit a sacrifice fly to score Welckle, which proved to be the game winner.
The Cardinals put a rally together in the eighth with a run on two hits, ending Volness’ day on the bump. Sam Carlson (Jr., St. James, Minn.) came in relief and worked his way out of a jam to maintain the lead. Carlson then pitched a scoreless ninth, ending the game with a strikeout and the tying run on third base to secure the win and his first save of the season.
Warner led the Black and Gold at the dish, batting 3-for-4 with an RBI. Dan Carlson hit 2-for-4 with two runs.
Gustavus continues MIAC play Saturday at Hamline. First pitch of the doubleheader in St. Paul is set for 1 p.m.
Good start gusties…….Watching from South Texas!!!
Vic Schlefsky