Ethan Mocchi connects with a pitch in game one. (Photo courtesy of David, Faulkner, SPX Sports)
SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team took on Bethel in a doubleheader on Saturday, splitting the series. The Royals took game one 9-2 before the Gusties won game two 4-3. With the results the Gusties move to 11-7 and 2-2 in the MIAC while the Royals move to 11-8 overall and 3-3 in the league.
The Royals were able to take control in game one early thanks to a three-run home run. The Gusties responded when they took advantage of an error by the Bethel pitcher as they got RBI singles from Sam Archer (Sr., Zimmerman, Minn.) and Jack Hanson (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn.).
Bethel responded though with a solo home run in the second inning to extend the lead to 4-2. In the fourth, the Royals brought across five runs, thanks to three hits, two walks, and one hit by pitch to break the game open and take a 9-2 lead that would hold out for the remainder of the contest.
In game one, Brice Panning (Jr., Hamburg, Minn.) led the Gusties with three hits, while five other members of the Black and Gold recorded one.
Adam Stockwell recorded the loss in the contest, pitching two innings allowing four earned runs, while striking out three. Jack Garrison threw well in relief going three innings, allowing no runs and just one hit, while striking out four.
Game two got off to a quick start with just two hits being recorded in the first two and half innings before the Gusties exploded for four runs in the bottom of the third. The Black and Gold notched five hits in the inning and got RBI’s from Panning, Archer, and Matt Berkner (Sr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) while also capitalizing on a crucial error made by the Royals.
Starting pitcher Christian Johnson (So., Buffalo, Minn.) continued his impressive run of starts, going 6.1 innings, allowing just two hits, and striking out seven. In his last three starts, Johnson has amassed 17.2 innings, striking out 29 batters, and allowing just nine hits.
Damon Rademacher (So., Princeton, Minn.) relieved Johnson in the seventh pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits, while striking out four.
The Gusties outhit the Royals 10-5 in game two with Archer, Berkner, and Ethan Mocchi (So., Champlin, Minn.) all recording two.
The Gusties will next be in action on Tuesday when they travel to Saint John’s for a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.