NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Bryce Novak became the all-time career hits leader in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history on Friday as Gustavus baseball split a non-conference doubleheader at Carleton.
Novak wasted little time to set the record, sending a hit through the right side to lead off the first game. Novak's hit was the 253rd of his career, passing Hayden Tsutsui of Carleton, who set the previous record of 252 in 2016.
Gustavus 11, Carleton 4
After Novak's record-setting leadoff single,
Danny Gavin walked, and
Brady Schmitz hit a two-out, two-run homer over the left field fence. The Gusties went up 5-0 in the second a sacrifice by
Ross Hebel and an RBI double by Novak.
Three more Gustie runs were plated in the third after a bases-load hit-by-pitch to Novak and a two-run single to right by Gavin.
AJ Vandereide hit his first career home run in the fourth for a commanding 10-0 lead.
The Knights ended the shutout in the fourth with a pair of runs and scored another in the fifth. A
Gavin Baker RBI double scored the 11th and final Gustie run in the seventh, while Carleton added run in the home half.
Tomas Nelson earned his first win of the season after tossing one inning of relief. Gavin led at the plate, batting 3-for-4 with two runs, and two RBI.
Gustavus 3, Carleton 4
The Gusties took the first lead of the game in the second inning as Nelson led off with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch. Carleton answered in the home half with two runs after an RBI single and a wild pitch.
The Knights then added two runs in the third on an RBI single and another wild pitch for a 4-1 lead. The score remained 4-1 until the seventh when the Gusties put together a late rally. Schmitz led off with a bunt single, Gavin singled through the right side, and
Brayden Kohls hit an infield single to load the bases.
Joe Burns ensued with an RBI single and
Isaac Becker hit a sac fly to make it a one-run game, but the rally ended there.
Tanner Hopkins suffered the loss after allowing two runs on five hits in two innings.
Mitch Casperson had a solid relief appearance, not allowing a run with two hits and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
Gavin led at the plate, batting 2-for-4 with a run.
Gustavus closes out the MIAC regular season schedule Saturday night at Hamline.
