COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - An offensive outburst of 29 runs propelled No. 18/20 Gustavus baseball to a MIAC sweep at Saint John's on Sunday afternoon. The Gusties claimed victories of 17-5 and 12-4, improving to 19-4 overall and 5-0 in the league.
 
Gustavus 17, Saint John's 5
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Johnnies got things going in the second with a run, scoring after a double, sac bunt, and a throwing error. The Gusties answered immediately in the third to tie the game as Joe Burns led off with a triple to center and scored on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Sam Schneider.
 
Saint John's quickly regained the lead in the bottom half after a walk, RBI triple, and RBI double for a 3-1 advantage, but once again the visitors had an answer the following inning, this time scoring six runs on four hits and an error.
 
Drake Siens drew a one-out walk and scored on a triple to right-center by Luke Siegle. Brady Schmitz then hit an infield single to score Siegle and advanced to second on a throwing error. Burns followed with a double to right-center to score Schmitz. Two batters later, Schneider walked to put runners on the corners and then Danny Gavin came to the plate and belted his team-leading fourth home run of the season for a 7-3 lead.
 
The Gusties added two more in the fifth after Siens walked, Schmitz was hit by a pitch, and both scored on a fielding error in right field. The Johnnies cut into their deficit with a two-run homer in the home half, making the score 9-5, but the visitors took advantage of command issues by the Johnnie pitchers to score four runs on just one hit in the sixth. The Gusties drew four walks in the inning, scoring on two bases-loaded walks and two sac flies.
 
Not taking their foot off the gas, the Gusties added four more insurance runs in the seventh. Brayden Kohls hit an RBI double, followed by run-scoring singles off the bats of Chris Knowles and Tomas Nelson. Isaac Becker later hit a sac fly for a 17-5 lead.
 
Benny Mcdonald nearly had a complete game on the mound, but was pulled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Mcdonald improved to 3-0 after allowing five earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Cody Johnson, making his first appearance of the season, was able to get the final out to secure the win.
 
Ten different Gusties had at least one RBI, led by Gavin's three-run homer. Kohls (2-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B) and Burns (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B) each had multiple hits for the Gusties.
 
Gustavus 12, Saint John's 4
 
After another scoreless first inning, the Gusties erupted for five runs in the second. Schmitz led off with a double and scored on a throwing error. Schneider reached on a second consecutive error by the Johnnies, allowing Nelson to score. Gavin then doubled to left-center, plating Schneider and Ross Hebel. And four batters later, Burns singled home Gavin for a 5-0 lead.
 
The Johnnies answered in home half with a solo home run before a scoreless third frame. Knowles connected for his fourth homer of the season in the fourth inning, giving the visitors a 6-1 lead. SJU answered with a lone run in the home half on a sac fly, and then made it 6-3 in the sixth after a couple singles and a fielder's choice RBI.
 
Making his 34th career start on the mound, Siegle tied Rod Swenson '99 for second in program history for starts. Siegle finished the day by earning his fourth win of the season after six innings of work. He struck out three, becoming the fourth pitcher in program history to eclipse 150 career strikeouts, and now has 151 total.
 
The Gusties added to their lead in the seventh as Schmitz was hit by a pitch and scored on a double down the left field line by Nelson. Hebel followed with a double to right-center, scoring Nelson for an 8-3 lead.
 
Jackson Thielen entered in the seventh and allowed two runners after a walk and hit by pitch, but got consecutive strikeouts to strand runners on the corners.
 
Another Gustavus run was added in the eighth after Kohls singled and later came home on a base hit by Burns. And the game was put out of reach in the ninth with three more Gustie runs. Nelson led off with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch. Hebel, who singled, scored on an RBI ground out by Gavin, and Kohls made it 12-3 with another RBI ground out, scoring Schneider.
 
Sam Baker pitched the ninth and closed out the game to secure the sweep. Knowles (3-6, R, RBI, 2B, HR) and Hebel (3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B) led at the plate.
 
Gustavus continues MIAC play on the road Wednesday at Bethel (14-6, 5-1 MIAC).
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