Written by Sports Writing Students, Sophia Deyak '27, Kiera Petersen '27, and Zach Dosan '26
SAINT PETER, Minn. — The Gustavus softball team swept the Sunday doubleheader against No. 10 nationally-ranked Bethel, picking up the team's first sweep of the Royals since the 2018 season. The Gusties won 3-1 in the first game before dealing Bethel its fourth-straight loss in an extra-inning 4-3 victory in game two. Gustavus moves to 14-14 overall and 8-2 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 3, Bethel 1
The two teams began the game scoreless, as each team's respective ace in the circle pitched two shutout innings. For the Gusties, it was sophomore
Maizie Anderson, while two-time First Team All-American Kayla Simacek got the start for the Royals. Anderson was unfazed by Bethel's national prowess heading into the matchup, "I just took it like any other game," Anderson said.
The Gusties held the Royals to only one run through the first three innings, as a triple from Bethel's Abby Otterness and a Gustie error scored Lexi DeBace. The Gusties responded, getting a two-out single from
Kayla Herda to score
Olivia Guggenberger and
Macy McNally in the bottom of the third for a 2-1 lead.
Caitlin Olafsson started the final scoring play of the game, leading off the bottom of the sixth with a triple to left field.
Carly Olson followed with a double to right center to drive in the run and give the Gusties the eventual 3-1 final.
Anderson drove the Gusties to victory, striking out five batters in the complete game victory, allowing just six hits, and surrendering no walks. Olafsson led the team at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Guggenberger, Herda, Olson, and McNally accounted for the other Gustie hits in game one.
Gustavus 4, Bethel 3
Game two got off to a slow start for the Gusties, who found themselves with bases loaded in the first inning.
Ava Hamsund held her ground, though, allowing just one run in the first off a single up the middle to get the team out of the jam.
Heading into the bottom of the second with a 1-0 Bethel lead,
Carly Olson led the inning off with a single down the right field line.
Taylor Katzenmeyer pinch ran for Olson, advancing to second on a passed ball. A
Greta Dahlen single scored Katzenmeyer to even the score 1-1.
Bethel took the lead once more in the top of the third, scoring on a passed ball to move the score to 2-1. The Gusties had a chance take back the lead in the bottom of the fourth, with two runners in scoring position, but got caught in a rundown play to strand two on base in the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth, with Gusties on first and third, Bethel brought Simacek back into the circle to try to hold the home team at bay. A sacrifice fly from
Olivia Guggenberger brought
Macy McNally home to even the score once more, 2-2.
Bethel scratched another across in the sixth, scoring on a double through the right side for the 3-2 lead. And, just as they had all game, the Gusties tied it up in response. A
Peyton Stevermer double sent
Breck Carlson into scoring position, who was pinch running for
Lauren Lambert who walked in the second at-bat of the inning. Dahlen sent a sacrifice fly to center field to score Carlson with the run that sent the game to extra innings.
Both teams remained tied after the seventh, but the Gusties stepped up to the challenge in the extra innings. "We really wanted to beat them," first-year catcher McNally said. And it showed, as Hamsund got three batters out on ground-outs to put the game in her team's hands. With
Kayla Herda on second, a
Carly Olson single to left field proved to be the game-winning hit, sealing the sweep for the Gusties with a 4-3 win.
Hamsund and McNally's chemistry from pitcher to catcher certainly aided in the team's first sweep over the Royals in six years, as both first-year players played their high school careers together. "It's really great to have this chance to play together because we already have that chemistry built in," McNally said following the win. Hamsund finished with the complete game victory, allowing two earned runs and eight hits in eight innings of work.
Madi Mueller and Olson each had a pair of hits in the win, while Olafsson, Stevermer, and Dahlen chipped in one.
The Gusties are back home on Wednesday, facing Macalester on April 17 in a doubleheader at the Gustie Softball Field. The first game is slotted for a 3:30 start.
