ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team suffered a doubleheader sweep at Bethel University Saturday, falling by scores of 12-1 in game one and 7-6 in the game two. The losses drop the Gusties to 19-15 overall and 7-9 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Royals improve to 28-6 overall and 13-3 in the league.
Gustavus 1, Bethel 12 (Box Score)
Consecutive four-run innings to start the game by the home team put the Gusties in too big of a hole to crawl out of as they dropped a decisive 11-run game. Bethel tallied four runs in the first inning on five hits and added four more in the second on two hits and an error. Gustie starter Brice Panning (Fy., Hamburg, Minn.) lasted just one inning, allowing eight runs (six earned) on six hits, a strikeout and three walks.
The Royals added one run in the fourth and three more in the fifth for their 12-run total. Gustavus scored its lone run of the game in the seventh as John DeMarais (Sr., Winona, Minn.) hit a solo homer. Ryan Moriarty (So., Le Sueur, Minn.) led the team at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double.
Gustavus 6, Bethel 7 (Box Score)
Game two was a much closer contest as the Gusties threatened to potentially send the game into extra innings or even take the lead after scoring two runs in the top of the ninth, but with runners on first and second with one out, a ground ball double play squashed the rally and completed the sweep for the home squad.
Bethel took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after a solo home run, but the Gusties immediately responded in the next half inning to tie the game. DeMarais doubled to center and scored on a single by Danny Carlson (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.). Gustavus took its first lead of the day in the fifth as Matt Berkner (So., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) singled, stole second, advanced to third on a single by Isaiah Welckle (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.), and scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Chatfield (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.).
The Royals regained the lead in the bottom half on a two-run double, but once against the Gusties had a response with a run in the sixth to tie the game 3-3. DeMarais walked, went to third on a single by John Lundquist (Jr., Rochester, Minn.), and scored on a single by Berkner. In a true back-and-forth game, the Royals wasted no time to answer, taking a 5-3 lead in the bottom half with a two-run homer.
The Black and Gold made it a one-run game in the seventh as Nolan Lepel (Jr., Plato, Minn.) doubled to left, advanced to third on a catcher’s interference, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock Peterson (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.). The home team regained a two-run lead in the bottom half with a run on two hits and added an insurance run in the eight, carrying a 7-4 advantage into the ninth and setting up the Gustie rally that fell just short.
Adam Stockwell (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) tossed five and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with one strikeout and three walks in a no-decision. Casey Lewandoski (Jr., Fairbanks, Alaksa) suffered the loss after two and one-thirds innings of relief. He allowed two runs on four hits with two Ks and a walk. DeMarais led the Gusties at the plate, reaching base in all five plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with three walks, two runs, and a double.
Gustavus has its final road test 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Augsburg (15-19, 3-11 MIAC).