Photo Gallery by Andrew Walters '11
NORTHFIELD, Minn. – On the fourth day of trying, the Carleton College baseball team finally got to play against Gustavus Adolphus College. The Knights pitching staff showed that it was rested after the long layover as both Anderson Cole (Fy./Aspen, Colo./Aspen) and Jacob Anderson (Sr./Anoka, Minn./Anoka) twirled gems. Cole got no run support and lost the opener, 1-0, while the offense scored five times in the opening inning of game two as Anderson hurled 6.0 shutout frames in a 5-0 victory.
The games were originally scheduled for Tuesday afternoon but had to be re-scheduled three times, twice for rain and once for unplayable field conditions. The squads finally played ball on Friday afternoon, and the pitchers on both sides were the story.
Game one featured a pitcher’s duel between Cole (2-4) and the Gusties’ Cody Sukalski, each pitcher hanging zeroes on the scoreboard inning after inning. Finally in the top of the sixth, pinch hitter Kevin Roth’s single plated Sukalski with the game’s lone run.
Cole scattered five hits and three walks, while striking out a season-best four batters. He made quality pitches as the most crucial times, stranding five baserunners in scoring position. This was his third complete game of the season.
Sukalski went the distance as well, limiting the Knights to only two hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
Carleton jumped all over Gustavus starting pitcher Connor Norris in game two, plating five runs in the opening frame. Ray Yong (Fy./Elmhurst, Ill./York), Adam Zweber (So./Corvallis, Ore.), Clay Parrish (Jr./Westport, Conn./Staples), and Erik Fabry (Jr./Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) had consecutive run-scoring singles in the inning.
Anderson, making the final home appearance of his career, made it stand up. He did not permit a baserunner past second base and improved to 2-4 on the season. He scattered three hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
“It was great to get back into the win column,” said Carleton Head Coach Aaron Rushing. “Our pitchers were awesome today. To give up just one run on the day is spectacular. I wish we could’ve gotten some runs for Cole. He deserved a better fate. Jake has been great for us all season, and it was nice to get him a win here at home.”
The Knights have two more doubleheaders on the schedule this season. They travel to Augsburg College on Thursday, May 5 and to St. Olaf College on Saturday, May 7.
