TUCSON, Ariz - After waiting through nearly two days of rain delays, the Gustavus baseball team got back on the field Saturday afternoon and defeated Howard Payne 15-5 in a game that started Thursday. 

Through seven games this season, the Gusties are proving to have one of the most potent lineups in NCAA Division III, ranking in the top five in five offensive categories. The Gusties rank second in the country in batting average (.426), slugging percentage (.697), and on-base percentage (.532), fourth in triples per game (0.86), and fifth in scoring (14.0). 

When the game started on Thursday, Howard Payne plated five runs in the first inning on six hits, including back-to-back triples. The Gusties answered with a pair of runs in the second as Drake Siens hit a two-run single, but the game was called due to rain with runners on first and second with two down. 

When the game resumed today, Gavin Baker reached on an error that scored two runs and then Chris Knowles hit an RBI single to tie the game 5-5. The Gusties erupted for six more runs in the third for a comfortable 11-5 advantage. Danny Gavin hit a two-run single, Bryce Novak reached on a fielder's choice to plate a run, and Siens followed with a two-run homer. Nelson finished the inning with an RBI double. 

The game went without another run until the seventh when Novak and Siens hit back-to-back solo homers. The final two runs came in the eighth as Novak knocked in a run on a fielder's choice and Siens hit a run-rule walk-off RBI single. 

Siens had a perfect day at the plate, batting 5-for-5 with three runs, six RBI, two home runs, and a walk. 

Mitch Casperson earned his third win of the season after entering the game in relief, starting today's resumption in the third. Casperson tossed six scoreless innings with five hits and six strikeouts. 

Gustavus concludes play at the Tucson Invite tomorrow against Wesleyan. 
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