MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Gustavus softball team settled for its second consecutive MIAC split, this time with Augsburg, as each team picked up a victory in two low-scoring games. The Gusties won game one, 2-0, before falling to the Auggies 2-1 in the rematch. Gustavus moves to 12-14 overall and 6-2 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 2, Augsburg 0
Maizie Anderson pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just three Auggie hits to lead the Gusties to victory. Anderson was extremely efficient in the circle, allowing just two walks and striking out eight batters to earn her third conference victory of the season.
Both teams went scoreless for much of the game, until the Gusties put two across in the sixth.
Caitlin Olafsson led the inning off with a single through the left side before advancing to second on a wild pitch.
Carly Olson walked in the next at-bat, before
Lauren Lambert reached on a throwing error by the Auggies to score Olafsson for the eventual game-winning run. A
Peyton Stevermer double to center field sent Olson home for the 2-0 Gustie advantage.
Anderson closed out the game in dominant fashion, not allowing a hit in the final two innings to seal the win. Five different Gusties accounted for the team's five hits, as
Madi Mueller,
Olivia Guggenberger, Olafsson, Stevermer, and
Macy McNally each chipped in one.
Gustavus 1, Augsburg 2
Game two was yet another battle of two pitchers, with a combined 10 hits allowed between
Ava Hamsund and the Auggies' Morgan Paaske. Augsburg got on the board early, scoring on a sacrifice bunt in the first inning, before both teams went scoreless for the next three innings.
Peyton Stevermer started the Gusties' only scoring play in the top of the fifth, as the first-year singled to the shortstop to get on base. A
Greta Dahlen bunt moved Stevermer to second, before
Macy McNally sent her home on a double to right field, evening the score 1-1.
Augsburg's Paaske proved to be the difference-maker in the game, doubling to right center in the bottom of the sixth before scoring on an RBI single through the right side for the game-winning run. The Gusties had Stevermer in scoring position in the seventh, but stranded her after back-to-back ground outs to end the game in favor of the Auggies.
Carly Olson and Stevermer led the team at the plate, both going 2-for-3, while
Kayla Herda and McNally chipped in the other two Gustie hits. Hamsund pitched all six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out seven batters.
The Gusties are back home Sunday afternoon, hosting No. 10 nationally-ranked Bethel at the Gustie Softball Field for a MIAC doubleheader.
