DECORAH, Iowa - Gustavus baseball traveled to Luther on Saturday for a non-conference doubleheader and struggled, dropping both.
Gustavus 3, Luther 7
The game did not start well for the Gusties, with an error driving in the first run for the Norse and then that runner was scored on the next pitch, quickly moving a 0-0 game to a two-run deficit with two outs. In the bottom of the second, Luther used a home run to take a three run lead through two.
Senior
Joe Burns (Eden Prairie, Minn.) got Gustavus on the board in the top of the third, singling to left field to score first-year
Jack Ortale (St. Louis Park, Minn.). After the lead was cut to two, the Norse responded with four runs in the next four times up to bat, extending their lead to as much as 7-1 going into the seventh. Junior catcher
Dylan Kopesky (Mankato, Minn.) attempted to start a comeback in the top half of the seventh with a double to right field that scores sophomore
Jackson Golberg (Savage, Minn.) and Ortale, but there was no luck after the play. Two scoreless innings ended the game, meaning the Gusties would drop Game 1, 7-3.
Kopesky led the team in the three spot with three hits and two RBI, while five different Gustie batters all had one hit apiece. Junior
Benny McDonald (Blaine, Minn.) went five innings in the loss, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs, while striking out four.
Gustavus 1, Luther 8
Game 2 did not start particularly well either, with a six-run second inning closing the door on the Gusties early.
Fifth-year
Isaac Becker was responsible for the one run in the game for the Gusties, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to score junior
Brayden Kohls (Norwood, Minn.). After the run, there were two scoreless times up to the plate for each team, before Luther tacked on two more in the bottom of the seventh to give themselves insurance.
Gustavus only had two hits in Game 2 and only gave up seven, but three errors plagued the team and allowed the first three runs.
Junior
Simon James (Minnetrista, Minn.) had both hits for the team, going 2-for-3 in the loss. The team was struck out 12 times and the relief staff for Gustavus held the Norse generally at bay, only giving up one earned run and six total hits.
The Gusties are home on Monday for a game against Crown at 2:30 p.m. before going to Bethany Lutheran for a game the same day at 7:30.
