MANKATO, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team opened its season at the Bethany Lutheran Kwik Trip Invitational, played at the MSU-Mankato Dome, dropping a pair of games, 6-0 to UW-Stout and 2-1 to Nebraska Wesleyan, on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Gustavus 0, UW-Stout 6
A four-run second inning proved to be far too much for the Gusties in their first game of the day, as the Blue Devil pitching staff held the Gusties to just one hit - off the bat of
Kayla Herda (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) - with seven strikeouts and just three walks in 23 at-bats.
Stout (1-0 overall) scored its first run of the game on an error, followed by an RBI single down the left field line to double the lead. Another single to left in the next at-bat inched the score to 3-0, before a bases-loaded walk put the Blue Devils up 4-0.
UW-Stout added its fifth and sixth on a 2-RBI double to left center, putting the game away for the 6-0 final.
Herda's hit came in the third inning, singling to right field, before the senior stole second, but was left on base after a strikeout to end the frame.
Maizie Anderson (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) pitched five innings in the loss, allowing four earned runs and striking out six.
Hailey Petzel (Fy., Mankato, Minn.) pitched the sixth inning, getting a trio of groundouts from the Blue Devils.
Gustavus 1, Nebraska Wesleyan 2
Nebraska Wesleyan (1-0 overall) held on to the 2-1 lead over the Gusties thanks to a two-run second inning, scoring both on RBI singles, one up the middle and the other to right field.
The Gusties tallied a trio of hits, the first of which came from
Paige Gritzmaker (Fy., Woodbury, Minn.) - the first of her collegiate career, as well - down the left field line. She was caught stealing to end the top of the second inning.
After a pair of fly outs to left field to start the seventh inning, and a
Greta Dahlen (Sr., West Des Moines, Iowa) hit by pitch,
Carly Olson (So., Luverne, Minn.) doubled down the right field line to advance Dahlen to third.
Macy McNally (So., Winona, Minn.) drove in the first run of the season for the Gusties, an RBI single to left field, to score Dahlen for the 2-1 final.
Ava Hamsund (So., Winona, Minn.) pitched all six innings, allowing six hits and both earned runs. She struck out four batters and walked three in 27 total faced.
The Gusties (0-2 overall) are back in action tomorrow once more at the dome, facing Buena Vista (0-2 overall) at 8 a.m. before a 1 p.m. match-up against Crown.
