TUCSON, Ariz. - The Gustavus baseball team registered a season-high 17 hits Thursday in a 14-9 win over Bethany Lutheran. The Gusties remain undefeated early in the season at 6-0.
After Bethany took an early 1-0 lead in the first, Gustavus answered immediately with four runs in the bottom half.
Brady Schmitz earned a free RBI with a bases-loaded walk,
Tomas Nelson followed with a two-run double, and
Luke Siegle knocked in the fourth run with a single to left.
Brayden Kohls singled home
Chris Knowles in the second and then the Gusties took a comfortable 7-1 lead in the third with three more runs.
Ross Hebel scored on a
Sam Schneider single and
Danny Gavin plated both Knowles and Schneider with a base knock.
The Vikings got back into the game in the fourth with three runs, ending Gustie starter
Adam Biewen's day on the mound, who allowed three earned runs on six hits and four strikeouts in his season debut. Bethany then made it a two-run difference in the fifth, but
Logan Feeney entered the game and ended the rally with a strikeout looking.
The Gusties added two runs to their lead in the bottom half as Schmitz and Nelson each hit RBI singles. After a scoreless sixth, Kohls and Siegle added RBIs in the seventh, while Schmitz tacked on a two-run double in eighth for a 14-6 lead.
Feeney was exceptional in his second appearance of the season, earning the win after 3.1 innings of no-hit, shutout relief while striking out five. After Feeney's exit, the Vikings were able to score three runs in the ninth, but it was too little, too late.
Gavin (4-6, 4 R, 2 RBI, SB) and Schmitz (4-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 BB, SB) led the hit parade with four hits apiece.
Gustavus continues play in Tucson tomorrow evening against Linfield University.
