The Gustavus baseball team extended its current winning streak to five games as it defeated Saint John’s 5-3 and 7-2 in St. Peter on Tuesday. In the first game, the Gusties scored runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to break a 3-3 tie en route to the 5-3 victory. Coach Mike Carroll’s squad tallied seven runs on nine hits in the second game. Gustavus improved to 11-9 overall and 4-0 in the MIAC, while the Johnnies dropped to 7-9 overall and 2-2 in the league.
In game one, Saint John’s struck the first blow in the top of the second inning when Bert Marsnik hit sacrifice fly to center field driving in Kyle Henkemeyer. The Gusties leveled the score in their next at-bat when Matt Morgan laced a double down the left field line. Morgan later touched home plate after Taylor Fish delivered an RBI.
The Johnnies took a 2-1 lead in the following inning as Eric Butorac hit an RBI single up the middle of the infield, scoring Brian Skluzacek from second base. However, Gustavus answered back with two runs of its own in the bottom of the third inning. The Gusties strung together three straight singles from Mike DesLauriers, Alan Woitas, and Tory Herman, resulting in one run. Woitas later scored on a passed ball to give Gustavus the 3-2 lead. Saint John’s tied the score in the top of the fourth inning after Joe Eiden drilled a two-out triple to deep right center field, driving in Andrew Gurbada.
The Gusties scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Alan Woitas beat a play at the plate after a failed Johnnie pickoff attempt of Tory Herman at first base. Coach Carroll’s team made the score 5-3 in the next inning after capitalizing on two Saint John’s errors. Mike DesLauriers and Tory Herman had multi-hit performances as DesLauriers went 2-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored and Herman went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Herman also pitched four innings for Gustavus as he gave up three runs on eight hits, while striking out five and walking two. Cody Sukalski came on in relief as he recorded three scoreless innings and allowed two hits to earn the win.
Both teams were knotted at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the second inning of game two when Nate Ruff ripped a two-RBI, two-out single into center field to give the Gusties a 3-1 lead. Matt Butorac pulled the Johnnies to within one run in the following at-bat when he blasted a solo home run to right center field to make the score 3-2.
Alan Woitas drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third followed by another walk issued to Andrew Woitas two batters later. With two outs, Cody Sukalski delivered a two-RBI single into center field to give Gustavus a 5-2 lead. The rally continued as Chad Eul roped a RBI single down the right field line and Brandon Boyd recorded a RBI double. Saint John’s was unable to score for the rest of the game as the Gusties picked up the sweep.
Nate Ruff went 3-for-4 from the plate as he drove in two runs and scored one, while Cody Sukalski went 1-for-2 with one run scored and 2 RBI. Starting pitcher Brandon Knoll compiled four innings and gave up six hits resulting in two runs with three strikeouts and three walks. Derek Eddie pitched three innings in relief as he did not allow a hit.
Gustavus will look to extend its winning streak on Friday when it hosts Concordia on Friday at 1 p.m.