The Gustavus Baseball team kicked off the Tucson Invitational with a doubleheader against DePauw University, but suffered a pair of losses, 6-0 and 5-4.
The Tigers led 3-0 after three innings and added three more insurance runs in the sixth to cruise to a 6-0 shutout behind a complete game by Wyatt Spector. Jacob Volness started on the hill for the Gusties and suffered the loss after three innings of work. Volness allowed two earned runs on three hits with a strikeout and three walks. Jacob Braun, Bailey Olsen, and Josh Forst also saw time on the hill. Sam Warner led the Gusties at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch. Gustavus combined for five hits in the game.
The Gusties brushed off the loss quickly and jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first of the next game. Isaiah Welckle and Dan Carlson both singled and scored on another single off the bat of Warner.
Four innings went by until the next run crossed home plate. Logan Thomas tripled in the fifth inning and scored on an ensuing single by Welckle to give Gustavus a 3-0 advantage. But the Tigers answered in the bottom half with three runs on three hits and a Gustie error to tie the game.
The Black and Gold regained its lead in the sixth with a run to take a 4-3 advantage. Warner doubled and scored on a single by Josh Chatfield. But the Tigers had anther answer in the bottom half with a pair of runs on three hits and held on for the one-run victory. Connor Kern took the loss after five and one-thirds innings. He allowed two earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Sam Archer tossed two-thirds of an inning in his first appearance. He struck out one and beaned another.
Welckle led the Gusties at the dish, batting 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Warner (2-3, R, 2 RBI) and Thomas (2-3, R) also had multiple hits.
In the following game Luther scored two runs in the third inning and never trailed, resulting in a 7-3 victory. The Norse gained a 2-0 advantage in the third after three singles, and tacked on two more in the seventh and three in the eighth for a three-run win.
The Gusties ended the shutout in the ninth frame with a trio of runs. Sam Warner doubled, John Lundquist singled, and both scored on a double by Brock Peterson. Peterson then scored on a single off the bat of Neil Engler. Adam Stockwell suffered the loss in his first collegiate appearance. He lasted six and one-third innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts and walks. Sam Carlson and Casey Lewandowksi also saw time on the hill. Lundquist led the Gusties at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Against Carthage, the Gusties surrendered eight runs in the second frame and could not dig out of the hole, leading to a 15-run loss in seven innings. Gustavus scored a run in the first inning after Josh Chatfield reached on an error and later scored on a single by Lundquist. The second Gustavus run came in the fifth after a bases-loaded walk. And two more crossed home in the seventh after four hits.
Gustavus sent four pitchers to the mound throughout the game –Kyle Pinke started, followed by Sam Archer, Michael Dunne, and Hayden Meyer (2-4, 2 R, RBI) and Logan Thomas (2-3, R) led the Gusties at the plate.
The Gustavus Baseball team concluded its spring trip Wednesday at the Tucson Invitational with a pair of wins. The Gusties beat Williams 16-7 in the first game followed by a 5-3 victory over Middlebury to improve to 5-7 overall.
After trailing 2-0 in the first inning, the Gusties busted out for eight runs in the second frame and controlled the game the rest of the way. The second inning was highlight by five hits, including a two-run double by Cody Christensen, two-run triple by Josh Chatfield, and a two-run single by Brock Peterson.
Gustavus extended its lead to 10-2 in the third on a trio of hits. Chatfield, Dan Carlson, and Lundquist all singled in the inning. Williams added one run in the third, another in the fifth, and three in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough to dig out of the early deficit.
Gustavus tacked on to its lead with two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three more in the seventh for its 16-run total, all driven in via an RBI. The Gusties amassed 16 hits as well. Warner finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI, two runs, and was a home run shy of the cycle. Chatfield (3-6, 3 R, 2 RBI) and Peterson (3-6, R, 3 RBI) also connected for three hits apiece. Connor Kern earned the win after six innings of work. He allowed six earned runs on 14 hits with one strikeout and zero walks. Adam Stockwell closed out the final three frames. He didn’t allow a run and gave up just one hit with five strikeouts and two walks.
In the next game the Gusties once again trailed early, 1-0 after the first, but responded with three runs in the second. Lundquist singled, followed by consecutive walks to Thomas and Matt Berkner. Chatfield ensued with a two-run single, and Welckle backed that up with an RBI single. Middlebury made it a one-run game in the third after two hits and an error, and then tied the game in the fifth after a pair of hits.
In the sixth inning, Gustavus regained the lead with two runs after one hit and two walks. Berkner recorded an RBI groundout to score Peterson and Chatfield followed with a single to score Thomas, who reached base on a walk. Jacob Volness tossed a strong eight innings to earn his first win of the season. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Jacob Braun earned the first save of the season as he closed out the ninth without allowing a hit.
Chatfield led the Gusties at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Gustavus won its home opener at 2:30 p.m. Monday sweeping Martin Luther 12-2 and 9-2, and split its first MIAC games vs. Saint Mary’s on Wednesday, April 6.