Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 ST. PETER, Minn. – For the first time since 2017, the Carleton College baseball team swept their Opening Day double-header - beating the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets 10-5 and 10-7 (both games 7 inn.).
Game One Recap
The Yellowjackets (0-4) used a costly two-out error in the first inning to push across three runs before the Knights (2-0) came to bat.
However, Carleton's leadoff hitter
Sam Zacks began the Knights' season at the plate in prototypical fashion, drawing a hit-by-pitch and stealing second and third. That began a furious run of eight straight hitters reaching base, including a three-run blast by
Ryan Chang and an RBI double ripped off the bat of
Jordan Appelbaum. Carleton exited the first inning up 8-3, scoring their most runs in an inning since 2021.
Starting pitcher
Ananth Iyer put up back-to-back zeroes after the first and
Sam Gossard pounded a two-run triple to right-center to stretch the lead to 10-3. UW-Superior got a two-run homer from Noah Dagostino in the fourth, but Iyer and
Mark Fernandez combined to hold off the Yellowjackets and give Carleton their first win in a season opener since 2022.
Iyer (1-0) went 5.0 innings and conceded just two earned runs, punching out four. Fernandez gave up one hit across two scoreless innings. Gossard finished 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Jack Hommeyer reached in every plate appearance with four walks and a run. Appelbaum was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Game Two Recap
UW-Superior got off to a hot start again, plating two runs in the first inning with the help of three walks. Carleton responded with a quick tally, with
Asher Stolberg walking and scoring on a
Sam Chutkow double. A pair of nifty defensive plays, including a 1-3-2 double play, killed a Superior rally in the second. In the bottom of the third, six straight Knights reached as part of a four-run frame, including in a two-RBI single from
Will Schnepf.
Carleton added in each of their final three turns at bat. In the fourth,
Aaron Rice hustled out an infield single to start another rally, with
Andrew Sellers lacing a double down the left-field line, Stolberg knocking an RBI sac fly to center, and Schnepf driving in Sellers with another single. In the fifth, Sellers drove in a pair with a two-bagger to right-center. In the sixth, Schnepf doubled and scored on an error.
On the other side of the ball,
Xander Stolberg twirled a scoreless fifth and sixth in his collegiate debut, punching out three, to keep the Knights ahead.
Zach Gordon got around a spot of bother to record the final out with the tying run at the plate.
Jack Curtis worked around jams to throw 4.0 innings and earn a win in his first collegiate start. Sellers' final line was 2-for-3 with a run, two doubles, and two RBI. Rice went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Schnepf was 3-for-4 with three RBI and a double.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton concludes a four-game set with another twin bill against the University of Wisconsin-Superior, hosted again by Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter. Game one's first pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.
