The Gustavus baseball team swept the University of Minnesota-Morris on Monday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn., winning game one 10-5, and game two 7-2. Gustavus improves to 15-16 overall, while UM-Morris falls to 6-29 overall.
Game One – UM-Morris put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning to gain an early 3-0 lead over Gustavus.
After two scoreless innings, Gustavus responded to the early deficit in the third inning. With Erik Sveen (Excelsior, Minn.) and Taylor Fish (Brandon Valley, S.D.) on second and first base, respectively, Drew Block (Rochester, Minn.) singled to center field. An error by the center fielder allowed Sveen to score, Fish to advance to third base and Block advance to second base. Boyden Lee (Fergus Falls, Minn.) then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Fish and bringing the Gusties within one run, down 3-2.
Tom Jaede (Eagan, Minn.) silenced the Morris bats in the top of the fourth inning and Gustavus scored one run in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch, allowing Grant Soderberg (Eden Prairie, Minn.) to score from third base to even the score at 3-3.
Once again, Jaede kept the door closed on Morris in the fifth inning giving up no runs on two hits. The Gustavus offense took advantage of the opportunity provided and exploded for five runs on six hits in the bottom half of the fifth inning for an 8-3 lead. Tim Miller (Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the inning off with a double to right-center field and scored on a David Tranvik (Robbinsdale, Minn.) single to right field. Following Tranvik, Soderberg hit a double down the right field line scoring Tranvik. After a Garrett Fuchs (Cold Spring, Minn.) fly out to center field, Max Laureano (Plymouth, Minn.) hit a double to right-center field, Gustavus’ third double of the inning, scoring Soderberg. Laureano scored on a single by Fish two batters later, and Sveen, who singled earlier in the inning, advance to third base. Sveen scored from third base two batters later on an error by the UM-Morris third baseman to close out the scoring in the inning for Gustavus with an 8-3 lead.
Gustavus added two insurance runs in the sixth inning after Laureano hit his second double of the game, this one to left field, scoring Evan Reed. Sveen followed with a single to right field that scored Laureano to increase the Gustie lead to 10-3. After Morris added two more runs in the seventh, Gustavus won its 14th game of the season, 10-5.
Gustavus had a handful of players with big days at the plate. Max Laureano went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Erik Sveen went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Grant Soderberg went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs, and David Tranvik hit 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
Rookie Max Fidler (Lino Lakes, Minn.) started his first collegiate game on the mound Monday, throwing three innings and giving up three runs on five hits, while striking out four batters. It was Fidler’s third appearance this season. Tom Jaede was the victor on the mound for Gustavus, throwing two innings of relief, giving up no runs on four hits and improving to 3-0 this season. It was Jaede’s ninth appearance and he now has a 3.75 ERA on the year.
Game Two – Morris struck first in game two with a run in the second inning, but once again Gustavus responded scoring a run in the third inning and never looked back. The Gusties added another run in the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead on a Tim Miller inside-the-park home run – his second home run of the year.
Gustavus built its lead in the fifth inning, adding three runs for a 5-1 lead. After Kellan Euerle (St. Cloud, Minn.) singled to right field, Fuchs tripled to right center field, scoring Euerle. Laureano followed Fuchs’ triple with a triple of his own to center field scoring Fuchs. A sacrifice fly by Sveen to right field scored Laureano from third base.
Morris threatened in the sixth inning, scoring one run on three hits. However, Gustavus closed the door by adding two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Miller doubled down the right field line and scored on a David Tranvik triple to right-center field. Tranvik scored on a passed ball during the next at-bat giving Gustavus a 7-2 lead. Junior pitcher Connor Norris (Omaha, Neb.) retired the side in the top of the seventh to give the Gusties the 7-2 win over Morris.
Norris pitched the full seven innings for Gustavus, picking up his first win of the season and improving to 1-0 overall. Norris gave up two runs on four hits and struck out ten Morris batters with no free passes.
Gustavus had another strong offensive showing in game two, hitting a total of six extra-base hits (two doubles, three triples and one home run). Tim Miller was 2-for-3 with an RBI, double and an inside-the-park home run. Garrett Fuchs was also 2-for-3 with two runs, a double and a triple.
Between the two games Monday afternoon, the Gustavus offense accounted for a total of 10 extra-base hits – six doubles, three triples and one home run.
Gustavus returns to MIAC play on Wednesday and will travel to Northfield, Minn. for a doubleheader with St. Olaf. Game one is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.