SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team Thursday claimed its first MIAC sweep of the season with a pair of victories over Concordia. Cole Pengilly (So., Le Sueur, Minn.) hit a two-run walkoff home run in game one and Charlie Hutchinson (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) tossed a complete game four-hitter in game two for the sweep. The Gusties are now 14-9 overall and 5-4 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 3, Concordia 2 | Box Score
After three scoreless innings, Gustavus struck first with a run in the fourth. Jack Hanson (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn.) doubled to the right-center gap, scoring Dexter Leer (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.).
Concordia answered with an unearned run in the sixth after a single to left field brought a runner around third with the throw on the mark at home to make the tag, but the ball was knocked out of the catcher’s glove and a run was scored.
Brice Panning (Jr., Hamburg, Minn.) got his first start on the mound and went six innings with four hits allowed, four strikeouts, and two walks in a no decision.
The Cobbers threatened to take the lead in the seventh off reliever Damon Rademacher (So., Princeton, Minn.) with runners on second and third, but Rademacher got out of the jam with a strikeout.
The Gusties were unable to score in the seventh and the game was sent to extras where the Cobbers immediately gained a 2-1 advantage after a single, sac bunt, error, and sac fly.
Trailing by one in the bottom half, Carter Clemensen (So., Cologne, Minn.) led off with a sharp single to right, which ended Concordia starting pitcher Ty Syverson’s day on the mound. Pengilly then stepped into the box and took the first pitch he saw off the relief pitcher well over the right field fence for the dramatic walk-off homer.
Rademacher benefitted from the blast to earn his third win of the season after two innings of relief. Pengilly led the team at the plate, going 2-for-4 with the two-run homer and a run.
Gustavus 3, Concordia 1 | Box Score
The Cobbers scored their lone run of the game in the third inning without a hit, benefitting from a passed ball and two errors.
The Black and Gold answered in the bottom half with a run to tie the game as Nate Lindberg (So., Bloomington, Minn.) doubled down the left field line, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on an infield single by Panning.
The Gusties scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the fourth. Ethan Mocchi (So., Champlin, Minn.) tripled down the right field line to score Pengilly who previously singled. Mocchi then scored on a wild pitch for the game’s final run.
Hutchinson went the distance to earn his first win of the season. The one run allowed was unearned as he gave up four hits and struck out four with no walks. Panning led at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Gustavus next travels to Carleton 1 p.m. Saturday for a MIAC doubleheader.