SAINT PETER, Minn. – For the 15th time in program history, Gustavus baseball is the MIAC regular season champion after a doubleheader split against St. Olaf on Sunday. The Gusties lost game one 4-3 but rebounded with a 10-8 victory in game two to secure at least a share of the conference championship, their first since 2019, and the No. 1 seed for this week’s MIAC playoff tournament.
Gustavus 3, St. Olaf 4 | BOX SCORE
After a scoreless first inning, Drake Siens (Jr., Rogers) hit a solo homer over the left-center field fence in the second for an early lead. St. Olaf answered in the third, scoring an unearned run after an error, single, and RBI fielder’s choice.
Nick Azar (Sr., Edina) regained the Gustie lead in the fifth with a solo homer over the left-center fence as well, but once again the Oles had an answer with three runs in the sixth. The visitors hit a two-run homer backed by consecutive doubles for a 4-2 advantage.
The Gusties got one run back in the bottom half as Bryce Novak (Sr., Cleveland) hit a leadoff double and scored on a sac fly by Gavin Baker (Sr., Lakeville), but that was it for the home squad as the game-tying run was stranded at second base to end the game.
Luke Siegle (So., Blaine) suffered his second loss of the season (7-2) after five innings. Siegle allowed two earned runs on two hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. The Gusties had just five hits in the game from five different batters.
Gustavus 10, St. Olaf 8 | BOX SCORE
The Oles rolled their momentum into the second game, batting through the lineup in the first inning with four runs on five hits. The Gusties got two runs back in the bottom half as Novak hit a leadoff home run, his second of the season, and Azar hit a sac fly after three straight walks.
Gustavus then made it a 4-3 game in the second as Luke Johnson (Sr., Paynesville) hit a leadoff double and scored on a single by Novak. St. Olaf went up 5-3 in the third after three singles, but once again the Gusties had a response in the bottom half. Leading off the inning, Siens blasted a no-doubt home run over the scoreboard, his second of the day and seventh of the season, but after crossing home plate Siens was ejected from the game by the home plate umpire for flipping his bat. Head Coach Brad Baker was also ejected from the game after arguing with the umpire.
St. Olaf made it a two-run lead in the fourth after three singles. Gustavus regained the lead in the sixth as Novak and Jack Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka) hit back-to-back singles to start the frame, followed by Gavin Baker’s MIAC-leading 11th home run. Baker also increased his league lead with 44 RBIs.
Trailing 7-6 in the seventh, the Oles regained the lead at 8-7 with two runs on four singles. Again, the Gusties had an answer and took the lead for good in the bottom half. With the bases loaded an nobody out, Logan Bjorkman (Sr., Lindstrom) hit a pinch-hit two-run single and three batters later Patrick Timmer (Sr., Lakeville) hit an RBI single for a 10-8 lead.
After a leadoff walk in the ninth, Brevin Goetz (So., Rochester) coaxed a ground ball double play and secured the final out with another ground ball. Goetz earned the win after three innings of relief. He allowed two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
Novak led at the plate, batting 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBIs, a home run, and a stolen base.
As the No. 1 seed in the MIAC playoffs, Gustavus will face the No. 4 seed, either Concordia or St. Olaf, at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Win or lose, the Gusties will play again Friday at either 12 or 3 p.m. Friday against Bethel or Saint John’s.
Excellent work, boys! Now let’s get that MIAC tourney championship!