SAINT PETER, Minn. – Sunday marked one of the earliest start days for the Yellowjacket baseball team in recent history, as they opened the 2026 season with a doubleheader against Gustavus Adolphus at the Gustie Baseball Field. Both team's pitching staff kept their teams in each game, but the Gusties came away with a 2-0 win in game one, followed by a walk-off 3-2 victory in the second matchup.
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Game One Notes
- The Gusties scored two in the first innings courtesy of a triple off the bat of Joe Burns. A sacrifice fly in the next at-bat brought him in for the Gusties' two runs of the game.
- Paddy Kelly (Andover, Minn./Andover), Noah Dagostino (Andover, Minn./Andover), Tanner Voight (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) and Will Czech (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) each logged a hit in the opener.
- Zach Romans (Saint Michael, Minn./Saint Michael) was tabbed with the loss, pitching four innings and allowing four hits off two runs and a walk. He was relieved by Josh Pritchard (Surrey, British Columbia/Clayton Heights Secondary), who threw two innings of shutout baseball with a pair of strikeouts.
- Both teams logged just four hits in the game.
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Game Two Notes
- Both teams didn't score until the fifth inning of play, with both pitchers keeping their squads within striking distance. Kaden Corlett (Gordon, Wis./Solon Springs) drew the start in game two, allowing just one hit and two walks. He would strike out three in the process.
- Brian O'Dwyer (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) hit an RBI single to break the tie in the top of the fifth, but another triple by Gustavus Adolphus saw them respond quickly.
- Later in the seventh, Voight scored after hitting a leadoff double to right field, giving the Yellowjackets the lead once again at 2-1.
- With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Isaiah Hasz sent a shot just over the left field wall to give GAC a walk-off victory at 3-2.
- Carter Thielke (Fergus Falls, Minn./Fergus Falls) and Ryker Ebert (Cameron, Wis./Cameron) pitched 2.2 and 1.2 innings, respectively. Both allowed just one hit on the afternoon.
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The Yellowjackets are back in action Saturday, Feb. 28 where they open a four-game series with Carleton. The opening pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. at Prospect Meadows in Marion, Iowa.
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