ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team Saturday erupted for 16 runs in a decisive 12-run game one decision, but settled for a split after dropping the second game 8-3 to Hamline. The Gusties move to 14-8 overall and 4-2 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while Hamline moves to 10-14 overall and 3-3 in the league.
Gustavus 16, Hamline 4 (Box Score)
The Gusties started the game with a 1-0 lead in the first frame after Dan Carlson (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Josh Chatfield (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.). Hamline took a 2-1 lead in the third on a pair of hits, but the Gusties responded with five runs in the bottom half. Carlson and John Lundquist (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) had RBI hits, while the other three runs were unearned as the Pipers committed four errors.
Gustavus added a run in the fourth as Isaiah Welckle (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) singled and later scored on an error. The Pipers got one run back in the fifth on three hits, but the Black and Gold answered with seven runs on five hits and two errors in the bottom half. Matt Berkner (So., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) and Carlson both hit a two-run singles, while Chatfield added a sacrifice fly.
Hamline scored one in the sixth after three hits to make it a 14-4 game, but the Gusties added two more runs in the bottom half as Carlson hit a two-run pop-fly single to center that was lost in the sun by the center fielder.
Carlson went 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs, five RBI, a double, and a stolen base. Connor Kern (Sr., Hutchinson, Minn.) improved his record to 3-0 after tossing the first five innings. He allowed four runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts and zero walks. Casey Lewandoski (Jr., Fairbanks, Alaksa) pitched the final two innings, not allowing a run with just one hit and two strikeouts.
Gustavus 3, Hamline 8 (Box Score)
The Gusties rolled their momentum into game two by scoring a pair of runs in the first inning for a 2-0 lead, but Hamline was able to tie the game in the third and take the lead for good in the fifth, holding on to salvage a split.
Welckle started the bottom of the first by reaching on an error and then advancing to third on the throw. He then scored on a groundout by Chatfield. Nolan Lepel (Jr., Plato, Minn.) then walked and later scored on a single by Brice Panning (Fy., Hamburg, Minn.). The Pipers tied the score in the third with a two-run double and took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on a solo home run.
Hamline added two more runs in the seventh on a two-run homer. The Gusties got one back in the bottom half as Berkner singled and then scored on an error. But the Pipers added two more runs in the eighth on a solo home run and then an error. They scored their eighth run in the ninth on a wild pitch.
Adam Stockwell (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) suffered the loss after five innings. He allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Brock Peterson (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) (2-3, BB) and Berkner (2-4, R, 2B) led the Gusties at the plate.
Gustavus returns to the Gustie Baseball Field Thursday for a 2:30 p.m. non-conference doubleheader against Martin Luther College.