(SPX Photo)
Gustavus vs. Saint John’s (DH)
Date: Wednesday, April 11
Time: 2:30 p.m. | 4:30 p.m.
Location: St. Peter, Minn. | Gustie Baseball Field
Live Coverage: Stats
ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team returns to action on Wednesday after a week off due to poor weather, opening Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play versus No. 25/27-ranked Saint John’s University at Gustie Baseball Field.
Last Time Out
The Gusties last played March 28-29, hosting non-conference doubleheaders versus the University of Minnesota-Morris and Bethany Lutheran College. Gustavus swept Minnesota-Morris prior to splitting with Bethany Lutheran.
The Series
Tuesday’s games will mark the 161st and 162nd all-time meetings between the Gustavus and Saint John’s baseball programs, with the Johnnies owning an 82-78 series advantage. The two teams split last season at Gustie Baseball Field, with SJU winning game one 2-0 and Gustavus prevailing in game two 7-3.
Scouting Saint John’s
The Johnnies are 14-2 on the season and have yet to play since completing their spring trip in Arizona March 20. As a team, SJU leads the MIAC in every offensive category, headlined by 170 runs scored and a .406 batting average.
Junior outfielder Max Jackson is the conference leader with 23 runs batted in and leads the Johnnies with 29 hits in 60 at bats. Senior Brennan Swan leads the team with a .511 batting average (2nd/MIAC) with 23 hits in 45 at bats. In addition, sophomore Joey Stock is tied for the lead in the conference with four home runs.
Jake Dickmeyer has paced the Johnnie pitching staff with a 1.42 earned run average in 19 innings pitched, while allowing just three runs. Danny Kuhn has tallied a team-high 24 strikeouts (T-5th/MIAC) in 17 innings and three wins on the mound.
Gustie Notes
- Almost half of the team’s runs batted in have come from Gustie first-years, as the freshmen have accounted for 42 of 86 RBI.
- First year’s Cole Pengilly (Le Sueur, Minn.), Ethan Mocchi (Champlin, Minn.), and Carter Clemensen (Cologne, Minn.) have appeared in all 15 games.
- Pengilly is tied for the lead in the MIAC with four triples, while owning a team-best 21 hits in 51 at bats.
- Pengilly was named the Gustavus Student-Athlete of the Month in March.
- Mocchi is currently the conference leader with 11 doubles and ranks third with 19 RBI.
- On the mound, Charlie Hutchinson (Fy., Maple Grove, Minn.) has guided the Gustie pitching staff, recording 13 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched and has yet to allow an earned run in three starts on the mound. Fellow freshman Christian Johnson (Bufalo, Minn.) has also made three starts and has recorded 12 K’s in 11 innings pitched.
- Gustavus is hitting .306 (7th/MIAC) from the plate, slugging .441 (4th/MIAC) and holds a .404 on-base percentage (5th/MIAC).
- On the base paths, the Gusties have stolen 16 bases (T-7th/MIAC) on 20 attempts.
- The Gustie pitching staff holds an ERA of 5.59 (8th/MIAC) with an opposing batting average of .291.