The Gustavus baseball team earned a split with #25 North Carolina Wesleyan Wednesday at the RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational, taking game one 3-2 in eight innings before falling 13-1 in game two.
Gustavus Adolphus 3, North Carolina Wesleyan 2 (8 innings)
Game one proved to a low-scoring affair, with North Carolina Wesleyan taking a 1-0 lead with an rbi single by Ryan Snyder in the top of the first inning. The Bishops added a second run in the top of the third inning courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Michael Smith that scored Luke Williford.
Gustavus pushed its first run across in the bottom of the third inning. Shea Roehrkasse opened the inning with a single and advanced to second base on a ground-out by Tyler Kaus. Following a walk by Mike DesLauriers, Pat Siering drove Roehrkasse in with an rbi single.
The Gusties tied up the game in the fifth inning as Roehrkasse again led off the inning with a single. After a walk was issued to Kaus, a ground-out by Aaron Madson moved both runners into scoring position. Nate Ruff, pinch-hitting for DesLauriers, scored Roehrkasse from third with a ground-out, but the rally was brought to an end as Kaus was caught in an attempt to take third on the same play.
NCWC had an opportunity to take the lead in the seventh inning after Chris Pecora moved into scoring position with a two-out triple, but a groundout ended the threat. The Gusties had an opportunity of their own in the bottom of the seventh as Anders Schmidt led off with a single. Schmidt was eventually forced out at second base on a fielder’s choice by Mike Bohnen, but Bohnen made his way around to third base on a pair of infield plays. Bohnen was stranded at third base, however, as a fly-out by Madson brought the inning to an end.
Gustavus held the Bishops scoreless in the top of the eighth inning and scored the game-winning run as Siering drove in Nate Ruff with an rbi double.
NCWC outhit the Gusties, 10-6, with four players picking up two hits. Pat Siering led Gustavus offensively, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two rbi. Anders Schmidt and Shea Roehrkasse each added a pair of hits.
Dave Wold went the distance on the mound for Gustavus allowing a pair of runs on ten hits with a walk and a strikeout.
North Carolina Wesleyan 13, Gustavus Adolphus 1
North Carolina Wesleyan scored at least one run in each inning in game, including seven in the fifth inning as the Bishops routed the Gusties 13-1.
Gustavus scored its lone run in the second inning as Ben Sherer scored off a Shea Roehrkasse rbi single. The Gusties picked up two of their four hits in the inning. Sherer, Roehrkasse, Pat Siering and Anders Schmidt each collected a hit for Gustavus.
Brandon Knoll took the loss on the mound for Gustavus, allowing 11 runs on 16 hits in four innings of work.
NCWC pounded out 18 hits in game two, compared to only four for Gustavus.
Gustavus (8-3) faces Williams in a doubleheader Thursday morning to wrap up its Spring Break trip in Arizona. The Gusties are scheduled to face Bethany Lutheran in a single nine-inning game Sunday, April 2 at Myrum Memorial Field in St. Peter.