St. Paul – The Gustavus Adolphus baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to St. Thomas at Koch Diamond on Monday afternoon. The Gusties surrendered 11 runs in the first three innings of a 12-2 loss in game one before falling by the final score of 4-0 in game two. Gustavus now stands 12-19 (9-7 MIAC) on the season while St. Thomas clinches the MIAC regular season title with a record of 29-5 (17-1 MIAC).
Game 1 – Gustavus 2, St. Thomas 12
In game one, St. Thomas shot out of the gate, putting up two runs in the first inning and six more in the second to open up a quick 8-0 lead. From there, the Gusties found it difficult to find solid ground.
They answered in the top of the third with two runs, but could not make a bid for a comeback as the Tommies came right back to score three in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to nine runs with a score of 11-2.
Gustavus held St. Thomas to one run in the final three innings, but could not push across a run of its own on the way to the 12-2 final score.
Justin Cunningham (So., Red Wing, Minn.) suffered the loss after completing one full inning of work and leaving with runners on base in the second inning. He allowed a total of eight runs on five hits and walked four in the outing. Game one’s winning pitcher was Josh Kubitschek, who went six innings and gave up two runs on three hits while striking out nine.
Game 2 – Gustavus 0, St. Thomas 4
The Tommies jumped out to another early lead in game two. St. Thomas scored two runs in the first inning and one in the second for an early 3-0 lead and would never look back.
The Gusties threatened in the top of the fifth when Cody Christensen (Fr., Luverne, Minn.) doubled to center field with only one out, but Gustavus could not capitalize and the score remained 3-0. St. Thomas then tacked on another insurance run in the bottom of the fifth for the final score of 4-0.
Christensen would be the only Gustie base runner to reach scoring position in game two. Of Gustavus’ six hits – all six of which came from different players – five were singles with Christensen’s double being the lone extra-base hit.
Jake Volness (Fr., Cokato, Minn.) received the loss after throwing five innings in which he gave up four runs on eight hits. Zach Franz was given the win for the Tommies after throwing six innings of shutout baseball, giving up five hits and striking out five without surrendering a walk.
The Gusties will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they host Macalester College at the Gustie Baseball Field for a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.