TUCSON, Ariz. – The Gustavus baseball team split its season-opening doubleheader against Allegheny on Wednesday at the Tucson Invite. The Gators walked off the Gusties 14-13 in nine innings in game one, followed by a 6-1 Gustie win in the nightcap.
Gustavus 13, Allegheny 14 (9 inn.) | BOX SCORE
Game one of the doubleheader featured six lead changes, 27 runs, 38 hits, eight errors, and 22 runners left on base. Allegheny got the early lead by scoring two runs on two hits and two errors in the first inning, and added another pair of runs in the second on four more hits for a 4-0 lead.
The Gusties answered in the third with four runs on four hits to tie the game. Bryce Novak (Sr., Cleveland) led off with a double and later scored on a single by Drake Siens (Jr., Rogers). Patrick Timmer (Sr., Lakeville) then hit a two-run single, followed by an RBI single by Logan Bjorkman (Sr., Lindstrom).
Gustavus took its first lead of the game in the fourth. Novak led off with a triple but was tagged out at home on fielder’s choice by Jack Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka). Three batters later, Siens singled through the left side to score Hanson.
The Gators immediately answered in the bottom half with two runs after a single, RBI triple, and RBI double for a 6-5 advantage. Once again, the Gusties had an answer with three runs on three hits and an error in the fifth. Tomas Nelson (Fy., Maplewood) singled and scored on an error. Hanson then hit the second triple of the game to score Novak. And Gavin Baker (Sr., Lakeville) followed with an RBI single to score Hanson.
In the back-and-forth battle, the Gators regained the lead in the bottom half with three runs on three hits and an error for a 9-8 lead. Gustavus tied the game in the sixth after Timmer singled and later scored on a sac fly by Novak. The Gusties then took back the lead with three runs in the seventh. Chris Knowles (Jr., New Ulm) singled home Baker, and Timmer doubled in Siens and Knowles for a 12-9 lead.
Down to its last out, Allegheny tied the game with a three-run homer to send the game to extras, but just as was the case all game, the Gusties had an answer. To start the eighth, Novak was hit by a pitch and later scored on a single by Baker. Again, the Gators answered in the bottom half with a run to tie the game but the game-winning run was thrown out at the plate and the game was sent to the ninth.
The Gusties did not score in the ninth setting up the walk-off winner for the Gators in the bottom half after a single, hit by pitch, fielder’s choice. and walk-off single.
Mitch Casperson (Jr., Le Sueur) started the game on the mound and lasted three innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Hunter Sheehan (So., Chanhassen) tossed the next 1.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits. Damon Rademacher (Sr., Princeton) relieved Sheehan in the fifth inning and pitched the next 3.2 innings. Rademacher allowed four earned runs on seven hits and six strikeouts. Sam Baker (So., Lakeville) threw the ninth inning and suffered the loss.
Novak (3-6, 3 R, 2B, 3B, HBP) and Siens (3-5, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB) led the Gusties at the plate.
Gustavus 6, Allegheny 1 | BOX SCORE
After an offensive outburst in game one, the pitchers stole the show to start game two with four innings of scoreless baseball.
The Gusties ended the shutout in a big way in the fifth inning with six runs on three hits and an error. Novak plated Brevin Goetz (So. Rochester) with an RBI single for the first run and two batters later, Gavin Baker hit a grand slam. Timmer drove in the sixth run of the frame with a triple down the right field line.
The Gators answered in the sixth after a beaned batter, wild pitch, and RBI single, but that’s all they could manage off Luke Siegle (So., Blaine). Siegle had a stellar first outing on the mound, tossing six innings with one earned run on two hits and seven strikeouts. Adam Biewen (Jr., Golden Valley) tossed a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts and a walk.
Hanson paced the Gusties at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with a run and a walk.
The Gusties play Bethany Lutheran at 1 p.m. CST tomorrow.