MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team salvaged a split Wednesday against Augsburg in its final road test of the season, dropping the first game 5-0 before claiming game two 6-1 at Parade Stadium. The split moves the Gusties to 20-16 overall and 8-10 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Auggies move to 18-20 overall and 6-12 in the league.
Gustavus 0, Augsburg 5 (Box Score)
The Auggies silenced the Gustie bats in game one, holding the visitors scoreless with just two hits. Augsburg scored a pair of runs in the second on a two-run homer over the left field fence. The Auggies added two more in the fourth with a pair of RBI hits and added their fifth run in the sixth after a leadoff triple followed by a base hit.
Connor Kern (Sr., Hutchinson, Minn.) suffered the loss after four and two-thirds innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits with a strikeout. Josh Chatfield (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) (1-3) and Brice Panning (Fy., Hamburg, Minn.) (1-3, SB) had the only hits for the Gusties.
Gustavus 6, Augsburg 1 (Box Score)
The Gusties broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning, scoring five runs on five hits to create separation and held on for a five-run victory.
Augsburg scored its lone run of the game in the first inning to take an early lead. After two scoreless innings, the Gusties answered in the fourth to tie the game 1-1. Nolan Lepel (Jr., Plato, Minn.) reached on an error and later scored on a single by Panning.
Four scoreless innings passed by before Gustavus erupted for five runs in the ninth. John Lundquist (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) and Isaiah Welckle (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) hit back-to-back doubles for the first run of the frame. Chatfield followed with a single to score Welckle. With the bases loaded, Brock Peterson (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) singled to left to score two runs, and Panning knocked in the final run with a single through the left side.
Sam Archer (So., Zimmerman, Minn.) pitched seven and two-thirds quality innings in a no-decision. He allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Casey Lewandoski (Jr., Fairbanks, Alaska) earned the win in relief, pitching the final inning and a third. He gave up just one hit with two strikeouts and as many walks. Welckle (2-4, R, RBI, 2B, HBP), Chatfield (2-5, R, RBI), and Panning (2-5, 2 RBI) led the team at the plate.
Lewandoski’s appearance marks his 17th of the season, breaking a school record of most pitching appearances in a season. He breaks the record of 16, set by Andy Schmidt (2004) and Ryan Michaelis (2008).
Gustavus concludes the season at 1 p.m. Saturday against league-leading St. Thomas (23-12, 15-3 MIAC).