The Gustavus Adolphus baseball team got a little extra work in prior to this weekend’s MIAC Tournament, improving to 28-11 overall with a doubleheader sweep of Buena Vista Monday in Storm Lake, Iowa. The Gusties scored three runs in the third inning of game one and never looked back, winning 5-1. Gustavus clubbed five home runs in game two, including two by center fielder Tony Konicek (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) to prevail 9-2.
Game 1 – Gustavus Adolphus 5, Buena Vista 1
Gustavus scored three runs in the third inning and never looked back, taking game one by a score of 5-1. The Gusties used a pair of hits and a BVU error to plate its runs. Shortstop Mike DesLauriers (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn.) knocked in the game’s first run, scoring catcher Shea Roehrkasse (So., Jackson Hole, Wyo.) from third on what seemed to be a routine ground-out. The throw by Beaver shortstop Lance Eddie was off the mark, though, allowing DesLauriers to reach safely. Designated hitter Pat Siering (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.), who reached base after being hit by a pitch, came around to score on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Tyler Kaus (So., St. James, Minn.). DesLauriers posted the final Gustavus run of the inning, scoring on a RBI single down the right-field line by second baseman Nate Ruff (Fr., Bloomington, Minn.).
Buena Vista got its lone run in the bottom of the second inning as left fielder Justin List scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Marc Goerders. The Beavers nearly plated a run in the fourth inning as right fielder Alex Fokken opened the inning with a single down the right-field line off Gustie reliever Spencer Barron (Jr., Winsted, Minn.). Fokken advanced to second on a ground-out and on to third base on a Barron wild pitch and attempted to score on a fly-out by Goerders, but Kaus gunned Fokken out at the plate from right field.
The Gusties added two more runs in the seventh inning as Roehrkasse singled in third baseman Aaron Madson (Sr., North Mankato, Minn.) and left fielder Wade Vrieze (Jr., Richfield, Minn.) doubled in Roehrkasse.
Gustavus starting pitcher David Wold pitched three innings, allowing the lone BVU run on four hits. Wold struck out three while walking three batters. Barron picked up the win, pitching four innings of scoreless baseball, allowing only three hits and striking out one. Ryan Dupic was tagged with the loss after throwing a complete game, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits. Dupic struck out a pair of Gusties.
Ruff, Vrieze and Roehrkasse each finished the game with a team-high two hits while also recording a RBI. BVU center fielder Joe Poole was the only Beaver to collect multiple hits, registering two of Buena Vista’s seven hits in the game.
Game 2 – Gustavus Adolphus 9, Buena Vista 2
The Gusties set the tone early in game two as the first four batters in the Gustavus batting order reached and scored. After Ruff opened the game by drawing a walk, Madson and Konicek followed with back-to-back home runs to left field to give the Gusties a 3-0 lead. First baseman Ben Sherer (Sr., Bismarck, N.D.) followed with a double down the left-field line and would score on a RBI single through the left side by Vrieze.
BVU answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of a pair of Gustavus throwing errors. Poole scored after an attempt by Roehrkasse to throw him out stealing third base skittered into left field. BVU left fielder Adam Hardie was plated as Fokken again reached base because of a Gustavus miscue in the field, cutting the score to 4-2.
Sherer opened the third inning with a home run to left field, his first of the season. The Gusties plated another run in the inning as Vrieze scored on a RBI single to center field by Kaus. Madson opened the fourth inning with a triple to right center and scored as Konicek promptly doubled to left center to give Gustavus a 7-2 lead.
The final Gustavus runs came in the sixth inning as Konicek and Roehrkasse deposited pitches over the wall in left and center field, respectively.
Four Gustavus pitchers scattered three hits, walked five and struck out five. Vrieze was charged with both BVU runs, while Brandon Knoll (Fr., Princeton, Minn.) was credited with the win. Buena Vista starting pitcher Michael Barta took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Konicek finished game two 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Madson, Sherer, Vrieze and DesLauriers were each credited with two hits with Madson knocking in a pair and scoring twice. Hardie, Fokken and Eddie collected the three BVU hits.
The five home runs hit by the Gusties in game two is a season high, topping the four hit out in a home win over Saint Mary’s April 22. Konicek became the third Gustavus player this season to hit two home runs in a game, joining Madson (April 22 vs. Saint Mary’s) and Roehrkasse (May 3 at Carleton). Konicek also tied a team-high with 10 total bases.
Gustavus, which at 28-11 is one win shy of tying the school record for wins in a season, is idle until Friday when it faces St. Olaf in a first-round MIAC Tournament game in Northfield.