NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College baseball team wrapped up the 2022 with a Mother's Day doubleheader against Saint Mary's University. The Cardinals rallied to win the opener, 13-10, and took the season finale for both sides, 3-0.
 
"As another baseball season comes to a close, I wanted to highlight the senior class," said Carleton head coach Aaron Rushing. "Since the day they arrived, this group has been making good things happen at Carleton, with their efforts on the diamond and off. Each and every one is a tremendous young man with a promising future ahead. This group worked incredibly hard and persevered through some significant challenges over the last three years, and have competed exceptionally throughout. I wish them the best as they move on to the next chapter in their lives and thank them for their contributions to Carleton and Carleton Baseball!"
 
Nine seniors wrapped up their time playing for the Knights: Vince Cone (New York, N.Y./Trinity School NYC), Cayten Gardner (Claremont, Calif./Claremont), Paul Hinton (Omaha, Neb./Millard West), Gabe Keane (New York, N.Y./Regis), Alec Kotler (Chicago, Ill./Latin School of Chicago), James Sassi (Stamford, Conn./Brunswick School), Sam Schur (Calabasas, Calif./Viewpoint), Jacob Small (Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley), and Jacob Smith (McKinleyville, Calif./McKinleyville).
 
Game 1 Recap
Carleton (10-23, 7-13 MIAC) trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the second inning, but the offense erupted for seven runs, the most runs scored by the Knights in a single frame this season and the most in an inning since scoring eight times in the bottom of the ninth inning of a non-conference game against Saint Mary's on May 12, 2021.
 
Small started the scoring with a two-run single to right field. Hinton brought home a run with a fielder's choice grounder, and Schur followed with a RBI double down the right-field line. Gardner added a two-run double to left field, and Luke Mager (Jr./Berkeley, Calif./Berkeley) added a RBI single to center field to plate the seventh run of the inning.
 
At the time, the Cardinals (18-19, 10-10 MIAC) were playing to keep their postseason hopes alive, and they slowly chipped away at the deficit. The visitors scored twice in the third inning, three times in the fourth inning, and used a five-run fifth frame to take a 12-8 lead.
 
Carleton got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hinton's infield single resulted in his third RBI of the contest, and a throwing error permitted the other run to cross the plate.
 
Saint Mary's tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh and held on for the 13-10 victory.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Concordia College-Moorhead picked up its fourth walk-off victory over the last five days, beating Gustavus Adolphus 5-4 in game one of those team's doubleheader. That result bounced Saint Mary's from the playoff picture due to tiebreakers.
 
Small was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Hinton went 2-for-4 with the 3 RBI, and Asher Stolberg (Fy./Sherman Oaks, Calif./Campbell Hall) was 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored.
 
Game 2 Recap
Rushing elected to let the eight healthy seniors on the roster start game two. Smith, who was sidelined by an injury sustained in practice last week, was not able to play in the game, but he saw time on the field as he spent several innings as the first-base coach.
 
Unlike the opener, this one was a low-scoring affair. Saint Mary's scored the game's only three runs during the top of the first inning. After that, the pitching staff's for both sides took over.
 
Cardinal starter Jordan Zabel worked 6.0 shutout frames for the win. Three Saint Mary's relievers worked a scoreless inning apiece.
 
After Keane, who also pitched in game one, concluded his 2.0-inning start, four relievers kept Saint Mary's from extending the lead. AJ Staff (Jr./Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge) and Ananth Iyer (Fy./Redmond, Wash./Overlake) each pitched a scoreless inning, while Braden Sebesta (Jr./Spring, Texas/John Cooper School) contributed 4.0 shutout frames of two-hit ball.
 
Small had two more hits to pace Carleton, giving him six base knocks on the day and boosting his batting average to.390.
 
Hinton hit .400 on the season and finished the year with only one strikeout in 125 at-bats, making him easily the toughest batter to strikeout this season across all three divisions of NCAA baseball.