SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team is set to host St. Olaf at 1 p.m. Saturday for the final regular season doubleheader of the year. The Gusties hold a one game lead in the MIAC standings at 13-5 (22-10 overall) while the Oles are right behind at 12-6 (23-12 overall).
LIVE STATS | WATCH LIVE | LISTEN LIVE (AM 860 KNUJ)
NOTES
- Gustavus is seeking its first MIAC championship since 1980, when current head coach Brad Baker was a senior on the team.
- The 1980 Gusties finished the regular season with a sweep over St. Olaf (7-2, 4-0) to secure their third consecutive MIAC championship.
- Baker is one win away from his 100th career coaching victory. He currently owns a 99-73 overall record and is 52-42 in the MIAC. With one more win, Baker would surpass his former coach Barry Bowles, who finished with a 99-85-1 record from 1978-80 and 1994-96.
- If Baker reaches 100 wins, he would become the third Gustavus head coach the reach the milestone behind George Myrum (1927-38) at 109-36, and Mike Carroll (1997-2015) at 344-351.
- Gustavus wins the MIAC championship outright with a sweep OR one win and one Saint John’s loss against Hamline.
- Gustavus could also share the MIAC title in a number of different ways, listed here.
SENIOR DAY
As is tradition at Gustavus, the final home game of the regular season is designated as Senior Day and a special tribute is made to the individuals who have dedicated themselves to Gustavus baseball the past four years. This year, the Athletics Department, Head Coach Brad Baker, parents, and fans salute the seven student-athletes who have represented the baseball program with pride and class throughout their collegiate careers. Student-athletes honored for their years of commitment are Ryan Moriarty (Le Sueur, Minn.), Dexter Leer (Owatonna, Minn.), Grant Brockhouse (Urbandale, Iowa), Matt Berkner (Sleepy Eye, Minn.), Sam Archer (Zimmerman, Minn.), Adam Stockwell (Apple Valley, Minn.), and Drew Weidner (Cannon Falls, Minn.).
THE SERIES
Saturday’s games mark the 171st and 172nd meetings between Gustavus and St. Olaf on the diamond with the Oles leading the series 94-76, but the Gusties have won the last six meetings. Last season the Gusties swept the Oles 6-5 and 7-1 on May 1 in Northfield.
SCOUTING THE GUSTIES
Gustavus most recently split at Saint Mary’s on Wednesday, winning game one 14-2 and losing the second 7-3, snapping a 10-game winning streak. Cole Pengilly leads the offense with a .387 batting average (41-106), including 24 runs, two home runs, and a .500 slugging percentage. Matt Berkner is on a five-game hitting streak with a .375 average (39-104) and eight extra-base hits. Brice Panning is the third Gustie over .300 with a .313 average and is on a seven-game hitting streak. Sam Archer and Christian Johnson are the probable starting pitchers for Saturday’s doubleheader. Archer is 4-1 with a 4.04 ERA and has won his last two starts. He has 22 strikeouts against 10 walks in 42.1 innings. Johnson is 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA and has won his last two starts as well. Johnson leads the team with 53 strikeouts in 42.1 innings.
SCOUTING THE OLES
St. Olaf is 7-3 in its last 10 games and 5-1 in the MIAC during that stretch. The Oles most recently swept Bethel 14-5 and 10-2 on Wednesday. The Ole offense leads the MIAC with a collective .329 batting average, led by Matthew Muller at .431 (44-102), which is second best in the league. Dylan Blake is hitting .401 (55-137), including 11 doubles, 36 RBI, and a .533 slugging percentage. If the Oles keep their pitching rotation for recent MIAC games, Hunter Barber and Jesse Retzlaff would be the probable starters. Barber is 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA after 47 innings. He has 26 strikeouts to 17 walks and opponents are hitting .280. Retzlaff is also 5-2 with a 3.86 ERA after 37.1 innings. He has an even strikeout-to-walk ratio (22:22) with an opponent batting average of .241. Elliot Syverson has made 10 relief appearances with five saves and a 2.21 ERA after 20.1 innings.