NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Despite twice outhitting St. Olaf College and holding a lead for seven innings of game two, the Carleton College baseball team came up short twice against its crosstown rivals by scores of 3-0 and 9-8.
Game 1 – St. Olaf 3, Carleton 0
After Carleton (11-21, 5-15 MIAC) went down in order in the top of the first, the Oles (22-13, 13-7 MIAC) struck first in the bottom half. An error on a bunt eventually allowed three unearned runs to come across in the inning. That would be the extent of the scoring in the opener.
Starter
Will Schnepf bore down and was stellar for the final five innings, allowing only two balls out of the infield and keeping the score at 3-0. Despite the performance on that side of the ball, Carleton was unable to solve St. Olaf lefty Jacob Fickenscher, who posted a complete-game shutout. Despite outhitting St. Olaf 5-3, the Knights left six runners on base over the final six innings, including stranding the bases loaded in the third.
Schnepf threw all 6.0 innings, his third complete game of the year. He allowed just three hits, all in the first two innings. He struck out three, and all three runs allowed were unearned. Schnepf now possesses, and will likely finish the season with, a sparkling 1.84 ERA. That number is third-best in recorded Carleton baseball history (see chart below).
Game 2 – St. Olaf 9, Carleton 8
Carleton jumped all over St. Olaf starter Matthew Oberlander and raced out to an early lead. In the second,
Ryan Chang singled to left,
Jack Hommeyer walked, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Asher Stolberg dropped a perfect bunt down the first base line, reaching base safely and scoring Chang. On the following at-bat,
Nathan Barnhart hit a soaring round-tripper to left, the first of his career, to make it 3-0.
The Oles got a run back in the bottom of the second, but Carleton got that back and more in the third by pounding out five consecutive hits to score four runs.
Sam Gossard singled to center,
Aaron Rice doubled to right, and Schnepf brought them both home with a ringing triple to chase the Ole starter. Chang and Hommeyer hit back-to-back extra-base hits off the Ole reliever to give the Knights a 7-1 lead.
The hosts scored a run in the fifth to make it 7-2, and Carleton was unable to add in the ensuing innings, stranding two in the fourth, and one in the fifth and seventh.
In the bottom of the eighth, St. Olaf posted a crooked number, scoring seven runs on five hits, two hit by pitches, and a walk. The furious comeback made the score 9-7.
In the ninth, Carleton attempted to mount a comeback. Gossard and Rice reached on free passes, and
Ananth Iyer had a clutch two-out single to score Gossard. After a Hommeyer single, the game ended on a groundout with the tying run in scoring position.
This was the sixth loss Carleton suffered in the opposing team's final turn at-bat.
Jack Curtis started on the mound for Carleton, and worked 5.0 solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits.
Carleton outhit the Oles again, 16-10. Schnepf went 3-for-5 and finished a homer short of the cycle. Hommeyer went 4-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Rice reached in all five of his plate appearances with two hits, two hit-by-pitches, and a walk. Chang went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton's season concludes with a road non-conference contest against Martin Luther College. First pitch will come at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7.
Carleton Baseball Single-Season ERA Leaders (Min. 30 IP)
1. 0.54 – John Worcester (33.0 IP) – 1964
2. 1.65 – Kiefer Lord (49.0 IP) – 2022
3. 1.84 – Will Schnepf (44.0 IP) – 2025
4. 2.01 – John Nielson (67.0 IP) – 1989
5. 2.60 – Jack Jorgens (45.0 IP) – 1964
