SAINT PETER, Minn. - Gustavus baseball opened the 2025 season Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep over UW-Superior at the Gustie Baseball Field. The Gusties rolled to a 13-2 win in game one and then earned a 7-6 comeback victory in game two.
Gustavus 13, UW-Superior 2
The Yellowjackets started strong with a pair of runs in the first inning, albeit unearned, but it was all Gustavus the rest of the way. The Gusties answered in the second as
Tomas Nelson doubled to the right-center field fence and then scored on a wild pitch.
Sam Schneider, who was hit by a pitch, later came home on a double by
Drake Siens.
Chris Knowles followed with a double to score Siens and the Gusties led 3-2 after two.
Schneider added a single run in the fourth after drawing a walk and then scoring on a double by Knowles.
Brayden Kohls started the fifth with a single, followed by a hit by pitch to
Brady Schmitz. Kohls later reached on a fielder's choice and Schmitz scored on a sacrifice bunt by
Ross Hebel for a 6-2 lead.
The Gusties put the game well out of reach in the sixth with seven runs on as many hits, along with three UW-Superior errors. All seven hits were singles, while Knowles registered to hits in the inning.
Knowles was perfect at the plate, batting 4-for-4 with three RBI, two doubles, a run, and a walk. Siens hit 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, and a double.
Luke Siegle earned the win after four innings without allowing an earned run, including three strikeouts and a walk.
Benny Mcdonald earned the save after entering the game in the fifth with a two-run lead. Mcdonald pitched three scoreless innings with three strikeouts and a walk.
Gustavus 7, UW-Superior 6
Just as they did in game one, the Yellowjackets opened the first inning with two runs, this time on a two-run homer. The Gusties responded immediately in the bottom half as Siens singled and Knowles walked. Both scored on a double by Kohls. UW-Superior took a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the fourth and added another two-run homer in the sixth. Another run was added on a double steal, giving the visitors a 6-2 lead.
Knowles and Schmitz each hit solo homers in the sixth to the cut the deficit to two. The Gusties then took the lead in the seventh. Nelson was hit by a pitch to start the inning followed by a single by
Joe Burns. Hebel then laid down his second sac bunt of the day to advance the runners, and two batters later, Knowles was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Danny Gavin ensued with a double to right center, scoring Nelson and Burns to tie the game. The game-winner was scored by Knowles on an infield single by Kohls.
Jackson Thielen earned the win after retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced in the final three innings. He struck out five and gave up just one hit. Gavin (2-4, 2 RBI, 2B, SB) and Kohls (2-4, 3 RBI, 2B) led the offense.
Gustavus makes its annual spring break trip to Tucson, Ariz. next week, starting with a doubleheader against Concordia University (Wis.) on Monday.
