TUCSON, Ariz. – For the second straight day, the Gustavus baseball team gave up a lead late in the game resulting in a 6-5 loss to Carthage on Saturday. The Gusties drop to 1-4 overall while the Firebirds improve to 3-2.
Carthage took the initial lead with a run in the first after a walk and RBI doubles. The Gusties answered in the bottom half as Bryce Novak (Sr., Cleveland) walked and later scored on a double play.
After four scoreless innings, the Gusties plated three runs on as many hits in the sixth. Patrick Timmer (Sr., Lakeville) hit an RBI single, Logan Bjorkman (Sr., Lindstrom) also hit an RBI single, and Mitch Casperson (Jr., Le Sueur) hit a sac fly for a 4-1 lead.
The Firebirds got a pair of runs back in the seventh to make it one-run game after a run-scoring wild pitch and RBI single.
Carthage then took a 6-4 lead in the eighth after a two-run single later followed by an RBI single.
The Gusties put together a rally in the ninth as Nick Azar (Sr., Edina) had a pinch-hit RBI single, but the game-tying run was stranded at second base.
Jayce Luna (Sr., Le Sueur) tossed five quality innings, allowing one earned run on two hits with six strikeouts.
Novak (2-4, R, BB) and Casperson (2-3, RBI, 2B, 3B, SAC) led the team at the plate.
The Gusties continue play at the Tucson Invite tomorrow against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 9 a.m. CST.