ST. PETER, Minn. – The pitching duo of St. James, Minn. natives Sam Carlson and Kyle Pinke kept the University of Wisconsin-Superior bats silent Friday in a non-conference home opening doubleheader as the Gustavus baseball team swept 9-2 and 15-1. Carlson pitched a complete game in the opener, while Pinke went six scoreless in game two for the pair of victories, improving the Gusties to 13-7 overall.
Gustavus 9, UW-Superior 2 (Box Score) | Photo Gallery
After two scoreless innings, UW-Superior took a 1-0 lead in the third with an unearned run on an error. The Gusties took a 2-1 lead in the fourth as Grant Brockhouse (So., Urbandale, Iowa) hit a two-run double to center field. The Yellowjackets evened the score in the fifth on a pair of hits, but the Gusties took the lead for good in the bottom half with a pair of runs on four hits. Brock Peterson (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) connected for a two-run double, which proved the be the game-winning hit.
Gustavus opened up the game in the sixth with five runs on five hits and an error. With the bases loaded, Nolan Lepel (Jr., Plato, Minn.) cleared the bags with a double to center, getting credit for two RBI with the third run scoring on an error. Peterson followed with an RBI single, while John DeMarais (Sr., Winona, Minn.) capped the inning with an RBI triple.
Carlson went the distance on the mound, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Lepel (3-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HBP) and Peterson (3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, SB) led the Gusties at the plate.
Gustavus 15, UW-Superior 1 (Box Score)
Leading 1-0 in the third inning, the Gusties added four more runs and never looked back. The first run of the third was scored on an error, while Logan Thomas (Sr., Lake City, Minn.), Brice Panning (Fy., Hamburg, Minn.), and Lukas Hanson (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) added RBI hits.
Gustavus added two more in the fourth as Matt Berkner (So., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) and Thomas each batted in a run. The Black and Gold took an 8-0 lead in the fifth, scoring on a passed ball. The game was put out of reach in the sixth with seven runs on four hits. Cam Hufendick (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) had the big hit of the frame with a three-run triple.
Pinke went six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with five strikeouts and zero walks. Brendan Zangs (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.) pitched the seventh and allowed one run on a home run. Josh Chatfield (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) led the team at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three runs, a double, walk, and a hit-by-pitch.
Gustavus returns to the Gustie Baseball Field at 1 p.m. tomorrow for a MIAC doubleheader against Hamline.