MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Gustavus baseball team Wednesday split a doubleheader at Augsburg, ending its winning streak at 10 games. The Gusties won game one 9-5 before losing 9-7 in the nightcap, moving to 13-9 overall and 7-1 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 9, Augsburg 5 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties started the game with a run in the first as Jack Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka) singled, stole second, and scored on a double down the left field line by Drake Siens (Jr., Rogers). The Auggies took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half with a two-run homer, but the Gusties came back with three runs in the second. Chris Knowles (Jr., New Ulm) and Logan Bjorkman (Sr., Lindstrom) both walked and two batters later, Sam Schneider (Fy., Rochester) hit his first career home run for a 4-2 lead.
Augsburg again answered in the bottom half with three runs on three hits, highlighted by a two-run double, taking a 5-4 advantage. The Gusties tied the game in the third as Hanson walked and later scored on an fielder’s choice by Knowles.
Gustavus took the lead for good in the fifth. Knowles hit a solo homer to left, his fourth of the season, while Nick Azar (Sr., Edina) hit an RBI double to left center. The Gusties scored their final two runs in the sixth. Gavin Baker (Sr. , Lakeville) knocked in Bryce Novak (Sr., Cleveland) with a single and Hanson later scored by stealing home.
Damon Rademacher (Sr., Princeton) entered the game in the fourth with the bases loaded and worked out of the jam without a run scored. He went on to finish the game, tossing 3.1 innings without allowing a run on three hits and four strikeouts to earn his second victory of the season, while dropping his ERA to 3.14.
Nine Gusties had one hit apiece at the plate.
Gustavus 7, Augsburg 9 | BOX SCORE
Gustavus appeared to be on track for the doubleheader sweep after scoring six runs in the first three innings, but the Auggies scored nine times in the fourth through eighth innings to take the lead and hold on for the win.
Siens hit a two-run double in the first, followed by an RBI single from Knowles for a 3-0 lead after one. The Gusties went ahead 6-0 in the third after Bjorkman hit a three-run blast over the left center field fence for his second homer of the season.
Augsburg started the chip away at its deficit with a run in the fourth, but the Gusties answered in the fifth by scoring on an error and taking a comfortable 7-1 lead. But the lead didn’t remain comfortable for long as the Auggies plated four runs on three hits and an error in the fifth, making the score 7-5.
Augsburg made it a one-run game in the sixth with an RBI single and then took the lead for good in the eighth with a three-run inside-the-park home run that went into the ivy covering the fence.
The Gusties threatened in the ninth with two runners on base, but the comeback effort came to an end with a force out to end the game.
Siens led at the plate, batting 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, and two doubles. Siens increased his team lead to seven doubles on the season and improved his batting average from .357 to start the day to .373. Brevin Goetz (So., Rochester) took the loss after allowing three runs in the eighth.
Gustavus welcomes Central (Iowa) to Saint Peter on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader.