The Gustavus baseball team swept non-conference opponent Simpson College 5-2 and 8-5 in St. Peter on Sunday afternoon. The Gusties, who improved to 20-17 overall, will close out their regular season on Monday against Saint John’s at 2:30 pm.
In game one, Gustavus scored two runs in each of the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead and never looked back on their way to a 5-2 win. Matt Musta pitched a strong game for the Gusties as he scattered eight hits and allowed two runs (one in the fourth and one in the seventh). He walked two and struck out four. Tony Konicek hit a two-run home run in the first inning and while Wade Vrieze and Ash Larsen contributed rbi singles in the second. Vrieze drove in the final Gustie run with a single in the sixth inning.
In game two, Simpson scored two runs in the first and three in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Gustavus countered with one run in the bottom of the third and five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead. Vrieze and Konicek were again the keys to the big Gustavus fourth inning as Vrieze drove in two with a bases loaded single and Konicek later followed with a two-run home run. Travis Gunderson scored on a passed ball in the fifth to extend the Gusties lead to 7-5 and then Tony Konicek hit his second home run of the game, this time a solo shot in the sixth to make the final score 8-5.
Ricky Sabo started for the Gusties and allowed four earned runs and seven hits in three innings. David Wold, who picked up the win, pitched the final four innings scattering six hits and not allowing a run. Tony Konicek was the hitting star for Gustavus with three hits in four at-bats including two home runs and three rbi. Konicek also hit a home run in the first game giving him three on the day. Wade Vrieze was two-for-four with 2 rbi in the second game. Vrieze, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games, was 6-for-8 in the two games with four rbi.
Gustavus has now won four straight games and nine of its last 10. The Gusties face Saint John’s on Monday afternoon in a very important MIAC matchup. The Gusties can clinch and MIAC Playoff spot with a sweep of the Johnnies.