Gustavus vs. UM-Morris (DH)
Date: Wednesday, March 28
Time: 2:30 p.m. | 4:30 p.m.
Location: St. Peter, Minn. | Gustie Baseball Field
Live Coverage: Stats | Video
Gustavus vs. Bethany Lutheran (DH)
Date: Thursday, March 29
Time: 2:30 p.m. | 4:30 p.m.
Location: St. Peter, Minn. | Gustie Baseball Field
Live Coverage: Stats | Video
ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team is set for its home opener versus the University of Minnesota-Morris, hosting a non-conference doubleheader versus the Cougars at 2:30 from the newly renovated Gustie Baseball Field on Wednesday prior to hosting Bethany Lutheran College on Thursday. The rescheduled doubleheaders will both consist of two seven-inning games.
Last Time Out
The Gusties’ original home-opening series versus Mount Marty College March 17-18 was cancelled due to snowy field conditions prior to another doubleheader versus Bethany Lutheran College being postponed last Friday. Gustavus most recently took one of four games versus Luther College March 10-11 in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. The Gusties took game one on Saturday 7-5 before dropping the next three contests.
The Series
Wednesday’s games will mark the 13th and 14th all-time meetings between the Gustavus and UM-Morris baseball programs, with the Gusties owning a 9-5 series advantage. The two teams last met in 2016, with Gustavus earning a series sweep in St. Peter.
Thursday’s games will mark the third and fourth all-time meetings between the Gustavus and Bethany Lutheran baseball programs, with the series tied at 1-1. The Gusties and Vikings split their sole meeting on April 29, 2007 in St. Peter, Minn.
Scouting Minnesota-Morris
The Cougars had their previous two matchups postponed and are coming off just one win in 10 games at the Central Florida Invitational March 12-19. With a 1-11 overall record, UMM owns a .242 team batting average and has been outscored 112-39 by its opponents.
Four Cougars are batting over .300 at the plate, with sophomore Brady Jergenson pacing the offense with 10 hits including five doubles and six runs batted in. The UMM pitching staff owns a 9.69 earned run average, having allowed 141 hits in 82.2 innings pitched.
Scouting Bethany Lutheran
The Vikings are off to a 4-6 start on the season, most recently being swept versus Macalester College last weekend. As a team, Bethany Lutheran owns a .253 batting average and has been outscored 67-51 by its opponents.
Sophomore infielder Grant Becher has paced the Viking offense, leading the team with a .438 batting average, going 14-32 at the plate with a pair of doubles and five runs batted in. The BLC pitching staff owns a 6.72 earned run average with 70 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched. Senior pitcher Alex Babcock leads the Vikings with 19 strikeouts in 15.1 innings pitched.
First-Years Featured
Over half of the team’s runs batted in and innings pitched have come from Gustie first-years. Cole Pengilly (Le Sueur, Minn.), Ethan Mocchi (Champlin, Minn.), and Carter Clemensen (Cologne, Minn.) have appeared in all 11 games, with Pengilly and Mocchi leading the Black and Gold offense. Pengilly is tied for the lead in the MIAC with four triples, while owning a team-best 18 hits and a .462 batting average. Mocchi is currently the conference leader with 11 doubles and is tied for third with 18 RBI. Charlie Hutchinson (Maple Grove, Minn.) has guided the Gustie pitching staff, recording 10 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched and has yet to allow an earned run in two starts on the mound.