ST. PAUL, Minn. – The drought is over. For the first time since 2008, the Gustavus baseball team is back in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs after salvaging a series split at St. Thomas on Monday. The Gusties dropped game one in a slugfest, 15-8, but a complete game pitching performance by Sam Archer (Jr., Zimmerman, Minn.) in game two resulted in a 6-1 playoff-clinching victory.
Gustavus held two leads in game one, but the Tommie offense was too much to handle in the opener. The Gusties took a 1-0 advantage it the first inning before the home team responded with five runs in the bottom half.
After a scoreless second, the Gusties regained the lead in the third with five runs, highlighted by a three-run homer off the bat of John Lundquist (Sr., Rochester, Minn.). But once again, the Tommies came back with six runs in the bottom half to take the lead for good. The Black and Gold tried to chip away and got two runs back in the fourth before St. Thomas added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth.
Gavyn Walsh (Fy., Andover, Minn.) suffered the loss in relief, allowing four runs (zero earned) on five hits. Carter Clemensen (Fy., Cologne, Minn.) (2-3, 2 R, BB) and Brock Peterson (Sr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) (2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR) led the offense.
Archer proved why he was the ace of the staff in the most important game of the season, recording his second complete game after allowing just one run on six hits with six strikeouts and zero walks.
After two scoreless frames, the Gusties took a 1-0 lead after a couple of Tommie throwing errors. The visitors gained a 2-0 advantage in the fourth as Peterson smacked an RBI double to left field.
The big inning came in the fifth. Another Tommie error resulted in the first score of the frame. Peterson followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, and Matt Berkner (Jr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) plated the third run on a sacrifice bunt.
The Tommies scored their lone run of the game in the bottom half on a solo homer, but the Gusties added an insurance run in the sixth on a Clemensen RBI single.
Clemensen led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a run, RBI, and a double.
As the No. 6 seed, Gustavus will take on No. 3 seed Saint Mary’s at 3 p.m. Thursday at CHS Field in St. Paul.
What a great finish for the Gusties since 2 weeks ago it looked as if they were not going to make the playoffs
I’m so happy for the seniors as they have worked so hard to bring respectability back to the program Congrats to the team and coaches. I’m proud to have been part of the program for 2 years
Currently at new Hyatt in downtown Saint Paul, Made flight reservations fron San Antonio Tx with expection that Gusties would make the playoff Congrats to coaching staff and rapid improvement on the field, Will be at CHS field Thursday Vic Schlefsky :55
Way to finish strong, Gusties, and good luck in the playoffs. I was pleasantly surprised to catch one of the St. Thomas games on KNUJ and hope those radio broadcasts will become a regular part of future seasons.