ST. PETER, Minn. – The Carleton College baseball team dropped both ends of Sunday's doubleheader at Gustavus Adolphus College, but did so in very different circumstances. The Knights rallied late to lead game one, only to watch the Gusties answer with a walk-off grand slam for the 11-9 victory. The momentum carried over to game two, where Gustavus scored early and often en route to a 17-1 decision in seven innings.
 
Game 1 Recap
As Hall of Famer Yogi Berra said, "It was like déjà vu all over again."
 
In the second game of Saturday's twinbill at Saint John's, the Knights rallied for three, two-out runs and led 9-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning only to see the Johnnies score four times, including a walk-off three-run homer.
 
Less than 24 hours later, a similar script played out.
 
Carleton (4-12, 1-3 MIAC) trailed 5-0 before knotting the score with five runs in the fifth inning, including Paul Hinton's (Sr./Omaha, Neb./Millard West) game-tying two-run single.
 
Gustavus (16-4, 5-1 MIAC) regained the lead via back-to-back home runs by Jake Hanson and Gavin Baker in the bottom of the frame.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, the Knights scored four times on two walks, two hit batters, an error, and only one hit—a two-run single by Aaron Rice (Fy./Evergreen, Colo./Colorado Academy)—to move in front, 9-7.
 
The Gusties loaded the bases with a hit batter and two walks, bringing Nick Azar to the dish with none out. Following a pitching change, the senior third basemen ended the suspense with a home run to left field. This marked the the second walk-off homer allowed by the Knights on the weekend and the third time they suffered such a fate this season (also March 20 at Chapman).
 
Game 2 Recap
The momentum from the dramatic end to game one stayed with Gustavus for the second contest as the Gusties scored five runs—four of them unearned—in the bottom of the first.
 
The home team added three more runs the following frame and put the game out of reach with a six-run surge in the third inning, including the second grand slam on the day for Gustavus, this one by Ethan Mocchi.
 
Carleton was held without a hit until James Sassi (Sr./Stamford, Conn./Brunswick School) doubled in the fifth inning.
 
Aaron Berkowitz (Jr./Kansas City, Mo./Pembroke Hill School) walked and scored on Zach Gordon's (Fy./Huntington Bay, N.Y./Huntington) single in the sixth inning to account for Carleton's run.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton is slated to hold its home opener on Wednesday, April 13 against Macalester College. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.