YANKTON, S.D. – The Gustavus baseball team opened its season Sunday with a doubleheader against Mount Marty after inclement weather cancelled Saturday’s scheduled season-opener. The Gusties dropped their first game 3-1, but rebounded in game two with a 2-0 win to start the season 1-1.
Gustavus 1, Mount Marty 3 | BOX SCORE
The Lancers took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after a leadoff hit-by-pitch made its way around the bases. The Gusties tied the game in the fourth inning on a pair of hits and a passed ball. Joe Melles (Sr., Hopkins, Minn.) singled and was pinch ran for by Matt Berkner (Fy., Sleepy Eye, Minn.). Two batters later, John Lundquist (So., Rochester, Minn.) doubled and Berkner scored on a wild pitch.
Mount Marty regained the lead in the fifth with a pair of runs on three hits and the score stood 3-1 for a final.
Jacob Volness (Sr., Cokato, Minn.) suffered the loss after six innings of work. He allowed three earned runs on six hits with one strikeout, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch. Lundquist led the team at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles.
Gustavus 2, Mount Marty 0 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties responded in the second game behind a complete game shutout by Connor Kern (Jr., Hutchinson, Minn.). Kern tossed seven frames and allowed just two hits with four strikeouts, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch.
Gustavus scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the second inning. Sam Warner (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn.) led off with a walk, advanced on a single by Lundquist, went to third on a single by Berkner, and scored as Robert D’Amato (Sr., Lonsdale, Minn.) reached on a fielder’s choice.
The second run of the game was scored in the fifth. John DeMarais (So., Winona, Minn.) led off with a double and scored two batters later as Josh Chatfield (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.) singled.
Isaiah Welckle (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) (2-2, 2B) and Berkner (2-3) led the Gusties at the plate.
Gustavus returns to the diamond Tuesday at Northwestern-St. Paul. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 5 p.m.