Kuhlmann, Gushiken Help St. Louis Crusaders Cruise By PAC–5 Wolfpack 

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED APR 1, 2023

HONOLULU — Kolby Gushiken knocked home four runs and pitched four innings of one-run ball, and Chance Kuhlmann turned in a three-hit performance at the plate Saturday morning as the St. Louis Crusaders (8-3-1) took down the PAC-5 Wolfpack (3-9), 9-1. 
The game’s first inning had mirrored-results, with St. Louis picking up a hit, only to have the base runner picked off by freshman left-hander Colten Amai-Nakagawa and have the top three hitters all get out.

The Crusaders returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning, with Gushiken doing the same following a Wolfpack base hit. 

The game remained scoreless until the top of the third, as St. Louis got the offense going with a Kuhlmann double into the left-center gap to lead off the inning. The senior came around to score just a few pitches later, as a wild pitch and passed ball from PAC-5’s battery allowed him to take third and home for the game’s first run.

Despite PAC-5 making a pitching change after Amai-Nakagawa loaded the bases, St. Louis continued the scoring. Gushiken, the Crusaders’ pitcher, singled to left to bring around two more runs and head into the bottom of the third leading, 3-0.

The righty came back with a shutdown inning of his own in the bottom half of the frame, inducing a 6-4-3 double-play ground ball to end the inning.

Gushiken singled again in the top of the fourth, picking up his third and fourth RBI of the day and increasing the Crusaders’ lead to five. St. Louis added two more runs in the inning, as Tanner Chun singled and came around to score without a hit after. 

Amai-Nakagawa got the Wolfpack on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, sneaking a single through the first base hole to bring the runner around from third and make it a 6-run deficit for PAC-5.

Micah Werts crushed a triple to the wall in the top of the sixth inning, scoring runners on first and second to extend the Crusaders lead to 9-1 before the final inning.

Shannon Fee, the St. Louis sophomore, closed the game out for the Crusaders with a pair of balls hit over to second base. A double-play and pop out to the second baseman ended the Wolfpack rally attempt, as they fell 9-1.

Kuhlmann finished the day for the Crusaders with three hits, two of which were doubles into the gaps. Gushiken picked up the win for his four strong innings of work. St. Louis will take on Damien next up on Tuesday, when the teams meet at CORP 2 with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 P.M. HST.

Amai-Nakagawa took the loss for the Wolfpack, but also had the only run batted in on the day for PAC-5. The Wolfpack will be back in action Tuesday at GOEA, taking on Mid-Pac with first pitch time at 3:30 P.M. HST.