SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team will play host to Bethel on Saturday for MIAC doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Gusties enter the contests 10-6 overall and 1-1 in MIAC play while the Royals are 10-7 overall and 2-2 in conference.
The Series
Saturday’s contests will mark the 81st and 82nd all-time meetings between the two teams with Bethel currently holding a 45-35 advantage. The last time the two teams met, on April, 25, 2018, the Royals came out with a 7-5 victory.
Scouting the Royals
Bethel is most recently coming off a series sweep of Hamline on Wednesday. Through 17 games this season the Royals are hitting .288 as a team while holding opponents to an average of .271. Mitch Butvilas and Mitchell Jerde have been a steady force at the top of the Royal lineup with Butvilas hitting .377, posting an OB% of .457, and scoring 14 runs, all team-highs. Jerde has been a big power threat, slugging .533 thanks to four doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs, while driving in a team-best 14 runs. Marcus Krupke has been the ace of the pitching staff thus far for the Royals with a 1.66 ERA and 2-0 record with 18 strikeouts in 21.2 innings.
Scouting the Gusties
Gustavus is most recently coming off a series split in a doubleheader with Northwestern on Wednesday. Through 16 games this season the Gusties are hitting .271 while the Gustie pitching staff has held opponents to a .244 average. Cole Pengilly leads the charge offensively, hitting .447 with 11 RBI’s and 12 runs scored. Matt Berkner is the next top hitter from the Gustie starting lineup, hitting .306, while cleanup hitter Sam Archer is hitting .278 with a team-high 14 RBI’s. Adam Stockwell and Christian Johnson are slated to start the two contests Saturday. Stockwell owns a 3-0 record with a 3.22 ERA, striking out 29 batters in 22.1 innings while Johnson holds a 1-2 record with a 6.35 ERA and has struck out 27 batters in 17.0 innings thanks to two consecutive 11 strikeout performances. Damon Rademacher is the leading reliever with a 2-0 record, 0.00 ERA, and four saves in 13.1 innings.