SAINT PETER, Minn. - In a game that featured three lead changes, the Gustavus baseball team came out on top 9-7 against Crown College in a non-conference game Wednesday. After getting swept yesterday, the Gusties are back on track and improve to 16-14 overall. 

Crown took the first lead of the game in the opening frame with a two-run single. The Gusties answered with one run in the bottom half as Gavin Baker walked, stole second, and later scored on a wild pitch. The home team took a 3-2 lead in the second on just one hit and back-to-back sac flies by Bryce Novak and Brady Schmitz. 

The Polars regained a 4-3 advantage in the third after a solo home run and an RBI triple. The visitors extended their lead to 6-3 in the fourth after consecutive RBI doubles. 

Gustavus cut the difference to 6-4 in the fifth as Chris Knowles doubled and scored on a ground out by Brayden Kohls. Another Gustie run was scored in the sixth as Tomas Nelson singled and scored on a double by Luke Siegle. The Gusties then took the lead in the seventh after Baker led off with a double and scored on a single by Knowles. Two batters later, Kohls singled home Knowles for a 7-6 lead. 

Crown tied the game in the eighth with a double steal of second and home, but the Gusties scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom half. Joe Burns hit a solo home run down the left field line and Baker later scored on a triple by Danny Gavin. 

Nelson came in to pitch the ninth and earned his first save of the season. Seven different Gusties pitchers saw the mound with Tanner Hopkins earning his first win of the season after tossing the eighth. 

Knowles, Gavin, Kohls, and Ross Hebel each had two hits. 

Gustavus returns to conference play Saturday at home with a doubleheader against Macalester. 
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