ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team concluded its home schedule in style Wednesday by sweeping Bethel 5-2 and 3-2 behind a pair of impressive complete game pitching performances. Jacob Volness (Sr., Cokato, Minn.) went the distance (7 inn.) in game one, allowing one earned run on just two hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Connor Kern (Jr., Hutchinson, Minn.) followed suit in game two with a nine-inning complete game, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks. With the sweep, the Gusties improve to 18-18 overall and 7-11 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 5, Bethel 2 | BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
The Royals jumped out to an early lead in the first with a run on two errors and a sacrifice fly, but Gustavus responded in the bottom half with a pair of runs. Isaiah Welckle (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) and Dan Carlson (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) both scored on a double by Sam Warner (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn.).
The Gusties tacked on two more in the second. Joe Melles (Sr., Hopkins, Minn.) singled and scored on a double by Cody Christensen (Sr., Luverne, Minn.), who then scored on a sac fly by Welckle.
Bethel added its second run in the fourth after a single, hit-by-pitch, wild pitch, and a ground ball RBI, but once again the Gusties responded with an insurance run in the fifth. Warner singled and scored on a base hit by Melles.
Warner (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2B), John Lundquist (So., Rochester, Minn.) (2-3), Christensen (2-3, R, 2B, RBI) and Melles (2-3, R, RBI) led the Gusties at the plate with two hits each.
Gustavus 3, Bethel 2 | BOX SCORE
After two scoreless innings, the Gusties took a 2-0 lead as Christensen singled in a run and later scored on an error. Bethel answered with a pair of runs in the fourth on three hits and an error.
The game-winning run came in the sixth as Carlson led off the frame with a triple to the right field corner and scored on a wild pitch.
Kern did the rest on the mound retiring nine of the next 11 batters for his third win of the season. Christensen led the team at the plate once again, batting 2-3 with a run and an RBI.
Gustavus wraps up MIAC play Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at St. Thomas.