BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2018 All-Conference Baseball Team on Tuesday and five Gusties were honored with postseason accolades. Sam Archer (Jr., Zimmerman, Minn.), Carter Clemensen (Fy., Cologne, Minn.), Nolan Lepel (Sr., Plato, Minn.), Casey Lewandoski (Sr., Fairbanks, Alaska), and Ryan Moriarty (Jr., Le Sueur, Minn.) each represented the Black and Gold.
Archer paced the Gustie pitching staff during conference play, finishing with a 3-1 record along with a 1.71 earned run average. In 28.2 innings pitched and five starts against MIAC opponents, Archer allowed just seven earned runs with 17 strikeouts. Among those seven starts included two complete game performances, headlined by a complete game shutout versus Carleton.
First-year second baseman Clemensen missed just one game during the conference schedule and led the Gusties at the plate with a .407 batting average, tallying 24 hits in 59 at bats. One of two first-years on the All-Conference team, Clemensen owned a team-best .470 on base percentage and slugged .508 with six doubles and seven runs batted in. Clemensen’s MIAC play was highlighted by a 10-game hitting streak from April 28-May 7, in which he notched 16 hits in 33 at bats. Against Augsburg and St. Thomas, Clemensen notched two hits in each game, helping the Gusties clinch the No. 6 playoff seed.
Lepel started each MIAC game behind the plate for the Gusties and finished second in the conference with 16 RBI, slugging at a team-best .554 percentage (5th/MIAC) with five doubles and three home runs. In 65 at bats, Lepel owned a .338 batting average with 22 base hits. Lepel played a key role in Gustavus claiming three consecutive sweeps May 1-6 to keep the Gusties in the playoff hunt. Lepel started the week with five hits, three home runs, and five RBI in a sweep at St. Olaf and finished with three hits in the Augsburg series, including the game-winning RBI in Game 1.
Earning his second All-MIAC award, Lewandoski made a team-high eight appearances out of the bullpen for the Black and Gold and will go down one of the most decorated relievers in program history. In 13 innings pitched during conference play, Lewandoski tallied 13 strikeouts compared to just four bases on balls and allowed just two earned runs while registering three saves and a 3-0 record. Opponents were limited to a .217 batting average while he owned a .108 earned run average. Lewandoski finished the regular season with a program record five saves and is the all-time saves leader with eight.
One of four Gusties to start in all MIAC games, outfielder Moriarty held down the leadoff spot in the batting order and tied for the team-lead during conference play with 24 hits and 14 runs scored. Moriarty owned a .364 batting average, a .425 on base percentage, and a .470 slugging percentage with four doubles, one homer, and six RBI. From the start of conference play versus Saint John’s April 11, the Gustie leadoff batter reached base in all but one game.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the 12th-annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for baseball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Gustavus’s representative this season is Brock Peterson (Sr., Cannon Falls, Minn.).
Graham Low of Macalester College was named the Max Malock Player of the Year, Jake Dickmeyer of Saint John’s was named the Mike Augustin Pitcher of the Year, James Green of Saint Mary’s was named the Rookie of the Year, and Jerry Haugen of Saint John’s was named the Jim Dimick Coach of the Year.