CLERMONT, Fla. — The Gustavus softball team completed its 2024 Florida spring trip with losses to UW-Oshkosh and No. 14 MIT on Thursday. Meeting for the second time this week, the Gusties fell to Oshkosh 13-1 before dropping their second straight 5-1 decision to the nationally-ranked Beavers.
Gustavus 1, UW-Oshkosh 13
An undefeated Oshkosh team held the Gusties scoreless until the seventh inning, meanwhile, the Titans scored 13 off 14 hits, including seven runs in the top of the final inning.
Oshkosh got on the board early, scoring on a one-run double to left center in the top of the first. The third brought two more runs for the Titans, scoring off another double and a single through the left side. A single run in the fifth and two in the sixth brought the total to 6-0 UWO heading into the final frame.
For the second day in a row, the Gusties were subject to a seventh-inning grand slam, bringing the score to 11-0 in favor of Oshkosh. A 2-run inside the park homer closed out the scoring for the hot-hitting Titans.
Caitlin Olafsson ran in the only Gustie run in the bottom of the seventh, as a fielder's choice took the sophomore home.
Greta Dahlen,
Carly Olson, and Olafsson totaled the only three Gustie hits of the first game of the day. Three Gustie pitchers saw action in the circle, with
Maizie Anderson credited with the loss, allowing five runs off eight hits through the first 5.2 innings.
Gustavus 1, No. 14 MIT 5
The Gusties and the Beavers once more played to a 5-1 score in favor of nationally-ranked MIT.
The two teams played scoreless for the first few innings, until the Beavers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. MIT scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to left field in the third, before doubling the lead on a 2-RBI single to center field in the fourth. The Beavers tacked on one more run in the fifth on a single to center.
The Gusties got their only run of the day in the top of the sixth, as
Taylor Katzenmeyer stole home after leading the inning off with a single to left. The Gusties registered two hits in the final frame, but left two on base, ending the game 5-1 in favor of MIT.
Katzenmeyer accounted for the team's only run and two of the four hits, while Olafsson and
Carly Nelson chipped in the other two.
Megan Sherwood got the start in the circle, allowing five runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Maizie Anderson closed out the game allowing only one hit and striking out two in eight batters faced.
The Gusties, now 6-12, begin conference play next week, hosting Concordia for their home opener, weather permitting, on April 3. Stay tuned to gogusties.com and @GustieAthletics on social media for schedule updates for all spring sports.
