TUCSON, Ariz. – The Gustavus baseball team split a second consecutive non-conference doubleheader Saturday at the Tucson Invite, falling 12-11 in game one prior to a 6-3 walk-off home run victory in game two over Carthage College.
An eight-run fifth inning by Carthage proved to be the dagger during the offensive onslaught in game one.
Down 3-0, the Gusties tied the game in the fifth inning. Brock Peterson (Sr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) led off the inning with a single prior to a couple hit batters and scoring off of a wild pitch. The batting order reached the top of the lineup as Ryan Moriarty (Jr., Le Sueur, Minn.) doubled home a pair to knot the game. Carter Clemensen (Fy., Cologne, Minn.) then knocked home Moriarty with a single to give Gustavus a 4-3 lead.
It would be the only lead of the game as Carthage answered in the bottom half with eight runs to claim an 11-4 lead, stringing together eight hits and knocking starting pitcher Casey Lewandoski (Sr., Fairbanks, Minn.) out of the game.
Not down without a fight, the Black and Gold added a run in the sixth and six more in the seventh, but was unable to overcome the deficit.
Clemensen and Ethan Mocchi (Fy. Champlin, Minn.) paced the Gustie offense. Clemensen went 3-4 at the plate with one run batted in, while Mocchi added three RBI with two hits.
After walk-off dramatics during Friday’s game one win over Howard Payne, Cole Pengilly (Fy., Le Sueur, Minn.) was the next Gustie hero, belting a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 6-3 win with his first career round-tripper.
Charlie Hutchinson (Fy., Maple Grove, Minn.) made his collegiate debut on the mound for Gustavus pitched six innings, allowing three runs off seven hits along with 10 strikeouts. Hutchinson allowed just one hit through the first four innings prior to Carthage tying the game in the fifth inning at 3-3.
The Gusties gained a 3-0 lead, notching one run in each the first, second, and fourth innings before Carthage knotted the score.
John Lundquist (Sr., Rochester, Minn.) came in relief of Hutchinson to pitch the seventh inning, earning the win.
Pengilly went 2-4 at the plate with three RBI, while Grant Brockhouse (Jr., Urbandale, Iowa) added two hits and two RBI.
Tomorrow afternoon during day three of the Tucson trip, the Gusties will face Concordia Nebraska at 4 p.m.
Sounds as if young players making difference. Glad to see U r splitting the games early. Anxious to see U play when U get back home. Good luck