ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team swept Martin Luther College Thursday by scores of 8-1 and 9-1 in non-conference action. The wins move the Gusties to 16-8 overall, while the Knights drop to 4-14.
Gustavus 8, Martin Luther 1 (Box Score)
After a scoreless first inning, Gustavus scored two runs in the second, which proved to be enough for the victory. John Lundquist (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) doubled to left and scored on a single by Matt Berkner (So., Sleepy Eye, Minn.). Two batters later, Berkner scored on a sacrifice fly by Isaiah Welckle (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.).
The Gusties added two more runs in the third. Nolan Lepel (Jr., Plato, Minn.) singled and scored on another single by Lundquist. Brice Panning (Fy., Hamburg, Minn.), who reached on a walk, later scored on an error. Gustavus took a 6-0 lead in the fourth as Danny Carlson (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) doubled to left and scored on a ground out. Lepel reached on an error and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Lundquist. Another Gustie run was scored in the fifth as John DeMarais (Sr., Winona, Minn.) doubled and scored on a single by Carlson.
Martin Luther scored its lone run of the game in the sixth on one hit and an error, but the Gusties got it back in the bottom half on a Brady Miller (So., Delano, Minn.) RBI.
Sam Archer (So., Zimmerman, Minn.) went six strong innings, allowing one unearned run with three hits, five strikeouts, and two walks. Jacob Braun (Sr., Wayzata, Minn.) tossed the seventh inning and struck out one. Carlson led the Gusties at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run, RBI, and a double. Lundquist went 2-for-2 with a run, two RBI, a double, and a walk.
Gustavus 9, Martin Luther 1 (Box Score)
The Gusties scored in every inning en route to an eight-run decision. After the Knights took an early 1-0 lead in the first, the Black and Gold responded with a run in the bottom half as Josh Chatfield (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) walked and later scored on an RBI single by Brock Peterson (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.).
Gustavus scored the game-winning run in the second. Lundquist singled and scored on a sac fly by Welckle. The Gusties tacked on two more in the third. Chatfield singled and scored on another sac fly by Peterson. Lepel, who singled to right, then scored on yet another sacrifice fly by Panning.
The home team took a 6-1 lead in the fourth as Berkner reached on an error and scored on groundout by Welckle. DeMarais then crossed home on an error. The Gusties posted another two-run frame in the fifth. Peterson scored on a wild pitch and on the same play Cam Hufendick (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) scored on a throwing error. The final run was scored in the sixth as Lukas Hanson (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Miller.
Kyle Pinke (Sr., St. James, Minn.) moved to 2-0 after pitching five innings, allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts and five walks. Sam Carlson (Sr., St. James, Minn.) and Casey Lewandoski (Jr., Fairbanks, Alaska) each pitched a scoreless frame. Lepel (2-3, R), Peterson (2-2, R, 2 RBI, SB, SAC), and DeMarais (2-3, R, 2B, SB) led the team at the dish.
Gustavus returns to MIAC play Saturday at home against Saint John’s. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., barring any inclement weather. Please check back tomorrow for any possible postponement announcement. UPDATE: Saturday’s doubleheader vs. Saint John’s is rescheduled to 2 p.m. Monday.