(photo courtesy of David Faulkner, SPX Sports)
SAINT PETER, Minn. – After 10 games on the road to start the season, the Gustavus baseball team Tuesday hosts its home opener against Wartburg. The non-conference doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. The Gusties enter the game 7-3 overall while the Knights are 4-10.
THE SERIES
Today’s games mark the 17th and 18th all-time meetings between Gustavus and Wartburg on the diamond with the series tied 8-8. The two teams last met March 18, 2012 in the Metrodome with the Gusties winning game one 3-2 and the Knights taking game two 6-1.
SCOUTING THE GUSTIES
Gustavus is riding a five-game winning streak, most recently sweeping Bethany Lutheran in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday. The offense is batting a collective .289 and the pitching staff owns a 4.56 ERA. Cole Pengilly leads the team at the plate with a .452 average (14-31) including nine runs. Sam Archer has driven in the most runs with 12 and is hitting .324 (12-37). Archer will get the ball in game one today, making his second start of the season on the mound. He is hoping to lower a 22.09 ERA after just 3.2 innings, including a 5:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Charlie Hutchinson is slated to start game two. Hutchinson enters the day with a 1.59 ERA after 5.2 innings. Opponents are batting .158 off Hutchinson.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Wartburg played three games against the University of Dubuque last weekend and went 2-1, snapping a five-game losing streak. Among regular starters, Tyler Nunemaker leads the offense with a .327 batting average (17-52), including seven runs, four doubles, and five RBI. Tyler Hovick is next with a .314 average (11-35), seven RBI, and four stolen bases. Ben Milewski has a team-leading 25 innings pitched with a 3.24 ERA and a 0-3 record in four appearances. He also leads the team with 26 strikeouts. Dylan Gotto has tossed 20 innings with a 9.00 ERA. Aaron Eybers has made a team-leading six relief appearances with a 2.19 ERA and a 1-2 record. He has struck out seven in 12.1 innings or work.