SAINT PETER, Minn. - The temperature was hot and so were the bats Friday afternoon as Gustavus baseball rolled to a MIAC-opening sweep over Carleton. Playing in temps that exceeded 80 degrees, the No. 17/22-ranked Gusties collected 30 runs and 31 hits - including six home runs - with decisive wins of 17-7 and 13-3, improving to 16-4 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC. 

Gustavus 17, Carleton 7

For the second time this week, Danny Gavin led off the game with a home run - his third of the season - setting the tone for the day. Luke Siegle had uncharacteristic struggles with his command on the mound as the Knights scored four runs in the first inning. Siegle hit three batters, walked another, and gave up three hits in just two-thirds of an inning, giving way to Michael Prosch. Prosch limited the damage and went on to pitch 3.1 innings of relief to earn his third win of the season. 

Tomas Nelson hit a solo homer in the second and the Gusties took control in the third with 10 runs on eight hits. The Gusties sent 14 batters to plate in the inning, highlighted by a three-run double by Brayden Kohls as the Gusties went ahead 12-4.

Gustavus wasn't done scoring as it plated another five in the fourth frame. Drake Siens hit a three-run double to put the Gusties up 17-4. The Knights scored one in the fourth and another two in the sixth, but it was far too little, too late. 

Gavin (3-4, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR, BB, SB), Kohls (3-4, 3 R, 5 RBI, 2B), and Siens (3-5, R, 4 RBI, 2 2B) led a 17-hit performance at the plate. Nick Hentges and Alex Swenson both got time on the mound in relief. Swenson tossed 1.2 innings of no-hit relief. 

Gustavus 13, Carleton 3

The Gusties rolled their momentum right into game two, scoring five times in the first inning. BRady Schmitz highlighted the frame with a three-run homer. Chris Knowles hit a two-run no-doubter to left in the second, giving the Gusties a 7-0 lead before the Knights scratched one across in the second. 

Joe Burns hit the team's third home run in as many innings, a two-run shot to right, and Siegle piled it on in the fourth with a three-run shot to center for a 12-1 advantage. Carleton almost extended the game in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a pair to make it a 10-run game, but Jacob Weckop was able to end the game. 

Gavin was perfect at the plate, batting 4-for-4 with two runs, finishing the day 7-for-8 with six runs, three RBI, a double, homer, and stolen base. Gavin increased his season batting average to .481, which leads the MIAC by .029. Siens hit 3-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, and his 11th career triple, which is one shy of the program record. Three of Siens hits on the day went off the fence.  

Benny Mcdonald earned his second win of the season after tossing five innings. He allowed one runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Hunter Sheehan and Weckop finished the game with an inning each. 

Gustavus continues MIAC play at home Tuesday against St. Scholastica. 
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