TUCSON, Ariz. – Brice Panning (Jr., Hamburg, Minn.) played the role of hero Thursday, driving in the game-winning run in walk-off fashion Thursday for the Gustavus baseball team in a 3-2 win over Carthage. The Gusties are now 3-3 overall with one day remaining in their trip to Tucson.
Carthage took an early 1-0 lead in the second on two hits and an error. It then gained a 2-0 advantage in the fifth on a pair of hits before the Gusties broke up a no-hitter in the bottom half of the frame. Nate Lindberg (So., Bloomington, Minn.) reached on an error and scored on a triple off the bat of Jack Hanson (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn.).
Gustavus put on its rally cap for the bottom of the ninth as Matt Berkner (Sr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) singled up the middle with one out, Ethan Mocchi (So., Champlin, Minn.) was beaned, and Lindberg walked to load the bases. Hanson then hit a sac fly to left to score Berkner, tying the game at 2-2. Down to the final out, a walk reloaded the bases and Panning connected for the game-winning hit on a single through the right side, scoring Mocchi.
The Gusties were limited to just three hits in the game, two of which came in the ninth.
Adam Stockwell (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) went six innings on the mound, allowing one earned run on six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Damon Rademacher (So., Princeton, Minn.) earned the win after three innings of relief. He gave up two hits without a run.
Gustavus concludes play at the Tucson Invitational on Friday morning, taking on Wabash in a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m. CST.