COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Trailing 5-1 with just two innings remaining, Gustavus rallied for three runs in the eighth, tied the game in the ninth, and Oliver Leupold hit a walk-off single in the 10th to beat St. Olaf 6-5 in the opening game of the MIAC playoffs Thursday at Becker Park. The 16th/18th-ranked Gusties improve to 34-7 overall and will face the winner of Bethel and Saint John's at 3 p.m. Friday with a trip to the conference championship game on the line. 

The Gusties did not start the game well as St. Olaf took an early 3-0 lead in the first after three hits, two walks, and a wild pitch. After two scoreless frames for the home team, Isaac Becker scored the first run after a single to center and an RBI single by Danny Gavin. 

The Oles regained a three-run lead in the fourth after a couple singles, sac bunt, and RBI ground out. The visitors then went up 5-1 in the sixth with a solo home run. The Gusties were in position to cut into the Ole lead in the bottom half with the bases loaded an no outs, but a double play followed by a strikeout ended the threat. 

Adam Biewen left the mound after seven innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Michael Prosch tossed a scoreless eighth with a strikeout, setting up the comeback effort in the bottom half. 

Gavin started a one-out rally with an infield single. Knowles drew a two-out walk and the bases were loaded after another walk to Luke Siegle. Drake Siens ensued with a two-run single to shallow right and Joe Burns singled up the middle to make it 5-4. 

Brevin Goetz entered the game in the ninth and got the Oles to go three-up, three-down. Down to the final three outs and trailing by one, Becker started a rally with a leadoff walk on a nine-pitch at-bat. Daniel Dahl then pinch ran for Becker and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sam Schneider then moved Dahl to third with a bunt single and Gavin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a fly out for the first out, Chris Knowles hit a sac fly to right, scoring Dahl for the tying run. The Oles were able to get out of the jam with a force out on the bases, sending the game to extras. 

Goetz faced the minimum again in the 10th with a pair of strikeouts, setting up the walk off situation in the bottom half. Siens led off with a double to right center, Burns walk, and Ross Hebel was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Leupold, in a pinch hit role, then took a 1-1 pitch up the middle, scoring Siens for the game winner. 

Goetz earned the win on the mound after two perfect innings of relief, improving to 5-0. Gavin led at the plate, batting 3-for-3 with a run, RBI, and two hit-by-pitches. 
  Read Full Article