Marquez and Nett spark 13-1 Huskies rout of Golden Bears

Tuesday, March 30

St. Paul, MN

3:00 p.m.

St. Cloud State

6-5, 4-2

Concordia University, St. Paul

6-8, 2-7

St. Cloud State

Concordia-St. Paul

Caleb Marquez blasted two home runs and scored four runs in the Huskies' 13-run romp

Photo by: Josh Deer

3/30/2021 6:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Monster performances by designated hitter Caleb Marquez (2-for-3, BB, HBP, 4 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, SB) and centerfielder John Nett (3-for-5, BB, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI) fueled a 13-1 St. Cloud State (6-5, 4-2 NSIC) midweek victory over Concordia-St. Paul (6-7, 2-6 NSIC) on Tuesday. SCSU piled up 16 hits in the game, three players had multi-hit performances and the pitching staff struck out 15 batters.

"We followed up our two wins at Wayne State with another complete game; offensively, defensively and pitching!" said head coach Pat Dolan.

The Huskies started the game off with a bang, as Nett walked, Max Gamm (2-for-5, R, 2B) doubled and Paul Steffensen (0-for-2, BB, RBI, SF) took ball four to load the bases for SCSU's middle of the order. Jake Shusterich (1-for-4, R, 2B) brought home Nett on a double-play ball, then Marquez teed off on his first long ball of the day to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead.

Freshman starter Luke Tupy (ND, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) worked a pair of scoreless innings, receiving more insurance in the third as Shusterich blasted a double and crossed home on a Matt Quade (1-for-3, BB, RBI) single. Following a Golden Bear tally in the home half of the third, Nett singled to lead off the fourth and moved to second on a throwing error. He advanced to third on a Gamm flyout, then scored courtesy of a Steffensen sacrifice fly.

Lefthander Jack Habeck (W, 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 4 K) relieved Tupy in the fourth, notching a quick pair of outs to retire the side and strand two inherited runners on base. Marquez was struck by a pitch to lead off the fifth, then stole second. Two batters later, Drew Bulson (1-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI) belted a two-run homer to right-center, giving SCSU a 7-1 lead.

Marquez homered again in the sixth, a solo shot to center. The Huskies added two more in the seventh as Bulson drew a leadoff walk and later scored on Nett's third home run of the season.

SCSU capped off the scoring with a busy three-run eighth. Marquez was walked to open the frame, then Tyler Schiller (1-for-1, R, 2B) ripped a double to right. After a pair of outs, Kyle Rodriguez (1-for-4, BB, R) was walked to load the bases ahead of Nett. The centerfielder reached on an error by the shortstop, allowing Marquez and Schiller to touch home. Mason Diaz (1-for-1, RBI) rapped an infield RBI single, scoring Rodriguez and giving the Huskies their decisive 13-1 lead.

St. Cloud State's bullpen was again spectacular, as Habeck, Eli Emerson (1.1 IP, H, 3 K) and Jacob Bradley (1.0 IP, 2 H, K) combined to work 4.2 scoreless innings behind Tupy's strong start.

The Huskies have now won four of their last five ahead of this weekend's home opener against archrival Minnesota State.

"We obviously have a big weekend coming up with Mankato, who again has an unbelievable team," said Dolan, "We have a chance to get back in this thing but it's going to take a lot of hard work. With our COVID policies we are allowed 625 fans and with the great weather and our big rivals we're hoping we'll get that many Friday and Saturday at Faber!"

St. Cloud State Baseball's full home attendance policy will be released Wednesday.

SCSU and the Mavericks will play a three-game weekend series beginning with a doubleheader at 1:30 p.m. CST on Friday followed by a noon Saturday finale.