NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team started Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday with a sweep over Carleton College, winning 8-7 in eight innings in the first game, followed by an 8-5 win in game two. The sweep moves the Gusties to 10-6 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC, while the Knights fall to 6-8 overall and 0-2 in the league.
Gustavus 8, Carleton 7 (8 inn.) (Box Score)
The Gusties erased a four-run deficit in the seventh inning with a grand slam off the bat of March Student-Athlete-of-the-Month Nolan Lepel (Jr., Plato, Minn.) and then added two runs in the eighth to hold on for the win.
After three scoreless innings, Gustavus struck first with a pair of runs in the fourth. Brock Peterson (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) singled in Dan Carlson (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.), who reached on a single. Two batters later, John Lundquist (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) singled in Peterson. The Knights immediately answered with two runs in the bottom half on three hits and two errors.
The game remained tied 2-2 until the home team scored four runs in the sixth inning on four hits and an error. Starting pitcher Connor Kern (Sr., Hutchinson, Minn.) exited the game in the frame, relieved by Sam Archer (So., Zimmerman, Minn.). Gustavus responded with the four-run seventh inning off the Lepel grand slam, which was set up by a Ryan Moriarty (So., Le Sueur, Minn.) hit-by-pitch and consecutive walks issued to Carlson and Lundquist.
Casey Lewandoski (Jr., Fairbanks, Alaska) came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and got out of the inning without allowing a run, forcing extra innings. The Gusties regained the lead, 8-6, in the eighth as Josh Chatfield (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) batted in a run, and Isaiah Welckle (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) scored on a throwing error. The Knights were able to score a run in the bottom half, but Lewandoski got out of the jam with a fly-out to end the game.
Lewandoski earned the win after two innings of relief. He allowed one run on five hits with a strikeout and a walk. Kern pitched five and one-third innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Lepel led the Gusties at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run, four RBI on a grand slam, and a hit-by-pitch.
Gustavus 8, Carleton 5 (Box Score)
The Black and Gold used another big inning to come from behind to complete the sweep as a five-run third inning gave the Gusties a lead they would not relinquish.
Carleton scored the first run of the game in the opening frame after a hit-by-pitch, groundout, wild pitch, and an RBI groundout. Gustavus answered in the second with a run as Peterson was beaned and later scored on a single by Moriarty. The Knights quickly responded with another run in the bottom half to take a 2-1 lead. But the Gusties answered with five runs on five hits in the third. Lepel and Matt Berkner (So., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) both had a two-run singles, while Brice Panning (Fy., Hamburg, Minn.) provided an RBI double.
Carleton cut into the lead with run in the fifth on two hits and an error. Gustavus added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh as Peterson hit an RBI single to left center, and Lepel later scored on a fielding error. The Knights battled for two runs in the bottom half, but Adam Stockwell (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) was able to record the complete game on the mound. Stockwell allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits, improving to 2-1 on the season. Chatfield (3-5, 2 R, 2B) and Panning (3-5, R, RBI, 2B) led the team at the plate.
Gustavus travels to Saint Mary’s (9-8, 0-0 MIAC) Wednesday for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader.