NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team picked up its fifth conference sweep of the season Wednesday, beating Carleton 6-0 and 8-3. The Gusties improve to 21-10 overall and 12-2 in the MIAC.
Under the direction of Head Coach Brad Baker, Gustavus has now reached the 20-win mark in seven consecutive seasons (excluding the 2020 pandemic-shortened season).
Senior shortstop Jack Hanson (Minnetonka) etched his name in the Gustavus record books today. Hanson hit 1-for-3 in game one, collecting his 200th career hit, becoming just the third player in program history to reach the 200-hit milestone. Hanson also scored two runs on the day, bringing his career total to 135 which ties Gustavus Hall of Famers Tony Konicek ’07 and Brad Mazer ’02 for the program record.
Gustavus 6, Carleton 0 | BOX SCORE
After two scoreless innings, the Gusties plated three runs in the third, which proved to be more than enough for the win. The first run was scored on a bases-loaded balk. Gavin Baker (Sr., Lakeville) followed with an RBI sac fly, and Drake Siens (Jr., Rogers) plated the third run with an RBI groundout.
The Gusties added a run in the fifth as Baker knocked in Sam Schneider (Fy., Rochester), who reached on a hit by pitch. The final two runs were scored in the seventh as Hanson singled and Baker ensued with a home run over the left field fence, marking his MIAC-leading eighth homer of the season.
Mitch Casperson (Jr., Le Sueur) continued to impress on the mound, collecting his second consecutive complete game and first shutout. Casperson (4-2) allowed just five hits with five strikeouts and zero walks. Casperson lowered his ERA from 3.25 to 2.72, which is currently third best in the MIAC.
Baker (2-3, R, 4 RBI, HR) and Siens (2-4, RBI, 2B) led at the plate.
Gustavus 8, Carleton 3 | BOX SCORE
Just as the case was in game one, game two featured two scoreless frames but this time it was Carleton striking first with a pair of runs in the third. The Knights scored after a hit by pitch and two singles.
The Gusties immediately answered with five runs in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Bryce Novak (Sr., Cleveland) doubled in two runs and later scored on a wild pitch. Three batters later, Siens also doubled home a pair of runs for a 5-2 lead.
The game hit a lull until the eighth when the Gusties added three more insurance with a two-out rally. Logan Bjorkman (Sr., Lindstrom), Chris Knowles (Jr., New Ulm), and Nick Azar (Sr., Edina) hit back-to-back-to-back RBI singles for an 8-2 cushion.
Adam Biewen (Jr., Golden Valley) started on the mound and went 2.2 innings, allowing two run on two hits with five strikeouts. Jackson Thielen (Fy., Eden Prairie) came in relief and went 3.1 innings of scoreless pitching, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts to pick up the win. Noah Meffert (Jr., Minneapolis) tossed a scoreless seventh followed by a scoreless eighth from Brevin Goetz (So., Rochester), while Nick Hentges (Fy., Edina) closed out the game with one run allowed in the ninth.
Novak hit 3-for-6 with a run, two RBI, and a double to lead the team at the dish. Siens hit two doubles on the day, increasing his MIAC lead to 15.
Gustavus travels to Collegeville on Saturday for a doubleheader against Saint John’s.