TUCSON, Ariz. – The Gustavus baseball team won its sixth straight game Sunday in comeback fashion, beating Middlebury 10-8 to improve to 7-3 overall. Trailing 5-3 in the seventh inning, the Gusties erupted for five runs and held on for a two-run victory.
Gustavus struck first in the opening frame with a run. Isaiah Welckle (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.) reached on an error and scored on a single by Josh Chatfield (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.). The Gusties added another run in the second with a two-out rally. Ryan Moriarty (So., Le Sueur, Minn.) walked, stole second, and scored as Welckle hit a single.
Middlebury answered with a run in the third on three hits. The Panthers then took a 4-2 lead in the fourth on three hits. Gustavus cut the deficit to one in the fifth as Chatfield hit a solo home run over the right field fence. Middlebury regained a two-run lead in the seventh with a run on two hits.
The seventh inning proved to be the deciding frame as the Gusties scored five runs on three hits and an error. Moriarty started with a leadoff walk, Welckle reached on an error, and Chatfield walked to load the bases. Nolan Lepel (Jr., Plato, Minn.) ensued with a two-run single. Cam Hufendick (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn.) then got a pinch-hit double to score two more runs. Two batters later, Matt Berkner (So., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) hit an RBI single for the fifth run of the frame.
The Panthers got a run back in the eighth on two hits, but the Gusties answered with two runs in the bottom half on three hits. Dan Carlson (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) and Chatfield both singled and scored on a double by Lepel. Middlebury made it interesting in the ninth with two runs, but the Gusties held on for the win.
Sam Archer (So., Zimmerman, Minn.) pitched six innings and received a no-decision. He allowed four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Jacob Braun (Sr., Wayzata, Minn.) got the win after three innings of relief. He allowed four runs on five hits with two Ks and a walk.
Chatfield led the team at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBI, a home run, and a stolen base. Welckle (2-5, 2 R, RBI) and Lepel (2-5, R, 4 RBI, 2B) also had multiple hits.
The Gusties continue play at the Kino Sports Complex at 11 a.m. (PST) tomorrow against Middlebury.