SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team’s winning streak continued Sunday at home with 4-0 and 9-3 wins over Augsburg. The Gusties, now 21-9 overall and 12-4 in the MIAC with four consecutive sweeps, have won their last nine league games, which hasn’t been done by a Gustavus team since 2008.
Gustavus 4, Augsburg 0 | Box Score
Christian Johnson (So., Buffalo, Minn.) picked up his second straight win in as many starts, going the distance in shutout fashion. Johnson allowed just five hits through seven innings and struck out six.
After three scoreless innings, the Gusties scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the fourth. Brice Panning (Jr., Hamburg, Minn.) singled and later scored on another single by Matt Berkner (Sr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.).
Sam Archer (Sr., Zimmerman, Minn.) scored the second run in the fifth on a single by Dexter Leer (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.).
The Gusties then took advantage of an error in the sixth to tack on two more runs. Carter Clemensen (So. Cologne, Minn.) walked and Cole Pengilly (So., Le Sueur, Minn.) reached on an error by the pitcher, and both scored on a single by Archer.
Archer led the team at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run.
Gustavus 9, Augsburg 3 | Box Score
The Gusties took a 2-0 lead in the third frame as Panning reached on an error and scored on a grounder by Pengilly. Berkner then blasted his first home run of the season over the left field fence.
The Black and Gold went up 3-0 in the fourth after Jack Hanson (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn.) scored on a single by Leer.
The home half of the fifth featured three runs and five hits to take a comfortable 6-0 advantage. Berkner, Ethan Mocchi (So., Champlin, Minn.), and Ryan Moriarty (Sr., Le Sueur, Minn.) each had an RBI in the inning.
Augsburg finally got to Archer in the sixth, scoring three runs on as many hits. Archer finished his day after 5.2 innings with seven hits allowed and a pair of strikeouts. Adam Stockwell (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.) came in relief and got out of the jam. Stockwell went the rest of the game on the mound without allowing a hit to pick up his third save of the season.
The Gusties added three insurance runs in the eighth. Pengilly executed a suicide squeeze bunt to score Leer, and Berkner followed with two-run double down the left field line.
Berkner led the offense, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs. The Gusties collected 15 hits as a team.
Gustavus continues to sit in the driver’s seat for the conference lead with four games left to play. The Gusties travel to Saint Mary’s on Wednesday afternoon for a doubleheader and wrap up the regular season Saturday at home against St. Olaf.