SAINT PETER, Minn. — Thanks to unplayable conditions at Reynolds Field field in St. Paul, the Gusties were treated to their home opener a week early — and they certainly made it count. Allowing only four hits and scoring nine runs on eight hits of their own, the Gusties sent the Eagles home with a 9-0 loss, improving to 4-8 on the season.
Both teams played scoreless through the first three innings until Jack Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka) belted a two-run homer over the fence to get the Gusties on the board in the bottom of the third. The Gusties added another run in the fourth on an RBI single from Tomas Nelson (Fy., Maplewood).
In the fifth, Northwestern walked both Hanson and Gavin Baker (Sr., Lakeville), setting up an RBI for Chris Knowles (Jr., New Ulm), whose single sent Hanson home for a 4-0 Gustie lead. Both teams were silent until the seventh when the Gusties found themselves with loaded bases. A sacrifice fly from Knowles scored Schneider, followed by an RBI single from Nick Azar (Sr., Edina).
Gustavus tacked on three more insurance runs in the eighth, as Sam Schneider (Fy., Rochester) sent Nelson and Mitch Casperson (Jr., Le Sueur) home on a double to left center. A single from Bryce Novak (Sr., Cleveland) advanced Schneider to third, who scored as Hanson reached on a fielder’s choice.
Luke Siegle (So., Blaine) picked up the win on the mound, pitching six innings, allowing only three hits, and striking out four. Eight different Gusties tallied the team’s eight hits, led by Hanson (1-4) who picked up two runs and three RBIs, and Schneider (1-2) who picked up a pair of runs and RBIs.
The Gusties are back in action next Saturday, hosting Hamline for a doubleheader MIAC opener.