MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - A flurry of five runs came in the back half of each game against Augsburg today, but the Gusties could only come out on the better half of one of those two, splitting the doubleheader with the Auggies.
After a slow day at the plate yesterday against Macalester, the bats sure came alive, but a series of unfortunate events kept the Gusties out of the first game. While the team made three errors in the second half of the twinbill, the team was able to mitigate the damage and shut out Augsburg.
Gustavus 8, Augsburg 10
The Auggies scored first, taking three in the first inning. Junior
Brayden Kohls (Norwood, Minn.) got Gustavus on the board for the first time, earning a two-out walk to bring home senior
Tomas Nelson (St. Paul, Minn.). Augsburg would respond with one of their own in the bottom half of the inning, leading to an empty third frame.
Gustavus would tie the game in the fourth, starting with sophomore
Jackson Golberg (Savage, Minn.) scoring on a wild pitch. Sophomore
Charles Gearen (Minneapolis, Minn.) evened the score at four, doubling down the right field line to score senior
Joe Burns (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Kohls. Goldberg would be responsible for another run in the next inning, singling to left field to give the Gusties their first lead of the day. After an error in the bottom half with two outs, a single, three walks, and a double turned a one-run lead into a five-run deficit with two innings to play.
Fifth-year
Isaac Becker (Columbia Heights, Minn.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the sixth to score Kohls once again, followed by two runs in the seventh with two outs, courtesy of junior
Simon James (Minnetrista, Minn.) and Kohls driving teammates in.
Both Nelson and Golberg went 3-for-4 in the first game, while Kohls and Gearen led with two RBI each. Kohls was walked three times and added two runs, tied for the most with Nelson.
Sophomore
Logan Grinnell (Victoria, Minn.) allowed six runs, but none of which were earned. Grinnell went 3.2 innings in relief, striking out five batters and only walking two.
Gustavus 7, Augsburg 0
The Gusties got back on track in Game 2 after three consecutive losses, starting with two runs in the second before adding five runs in the sixth. Junior
Cole Spitzer earned the win with five shutout innings, only allowing two hits and striking out six before being relieved.
In the second inning, junior
Isaiah Hasz (Pine City, Minn.) singled to right center field with no outs, driving home James. After a pop up by Nelson, Burns was able to score on a wild pitch for the second run of the inning for the visitors.
The teams went three scoreless innings before Gustavus was able to break the score open and further their comfort in the sixth to head into the back half of the game. Gearen started the inning by doubling down the right field line and scoring Golberg. The favor was returned and Gearan was driven home with two outs, thanks to junior
Dylan Kopesky (Mankato, Minn.) being hit by pitch. Senior
Ross Hebel (Prior Lake, Minn.) found his first RBI of the day in the sixth as well, hitting a bases clearing double to left center field to take the lead to seven.
The score would hold for the last three and a half innings, giving the Gusties the win. Gustavus had 34 at-bats in the game, including five for Kohls and Golberg. The seven runs were scored by seven different players, but Golberg led again with three hits.
The team takes a few days off, waiting until Saturday to take on Bethel at home, with the MIAC doubleheader being scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Gustie Baseball field.
