SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team suffered a sweep at the hands of St. Catherine on Tuesday, April 22 at the Gustie Softball Field.
The Wildcats won a low-scoring game one 3-1 as the Gusties stranded the game-tying runs on base in the bottom of the seventh. Errors plagued Gustavus through game two, four of which contributed to five unearned runs in the 9-3 setback.
Gustavus 1, St. Catherine 3
St. Catherine scored its first two runs in the first inning, leading the game off with a double to left field. A one-out triple scored the first run, while a subsequent single scored the eventual game-winner in the next at-bat. SCU bookended the game with a solo run in the sevent on an RBI single.
The Gusties managed six hits in game two, but batted 2-for-14 (.143) with runners on base. Needing just two runs to tie the game, the Gusties were granted base runners thanks to an SCU error in center field and a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the seventh. With just one out down, St. Catherine closed the game out with two quick outs, one a pop-up to short and the other a fly out to center, to end the game.
Maizie Anderson (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) was effective in the circle, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out two. She allowed three free passes, a wild pitch and two walks, but collected a trio of three-up, three-down innings.
St. Catherine pitcher Christy stumped the Gusties at the plate, but
Kayla Herda (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) and
Carly Olson (So., Luverne, Minn.) each led the team with two hits each.
Gustavus 3, St. Catherine 9
The Gusties found some juice at the plate in game two, collecting three runs off eight hits, but struggled defensively, conceding four errors, including one that put SCU ahead early in the first inning.
St. Catherine scored two on an error to start the game, followed by a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single for a 4-0 advantage after inning one.
The Gusties cut the lead in half in the third inning, this time taking advantage of a Wildcat fielding error to score two. After back-to-back singles to start the inning, Herda and
Macy Lembke (Fy., Blooming Prairie, Minn.) both scored to bring the score to 4-2.
SCU dashed any hope of a comeback in the next inning, scoring two more unearned runs for the 6-2 advantage.
Greta Dahlen (Sr., West Des Moines, Iowa) grounded out with the bases loaded to score the Gusties' final run of the day. St. Catherine ended the game with a three-run seventh inning, followed by a double play and groundout to end the game, 9-3.
Three Gustie pitchers saw time in the circle, with
Ava Hamsund (So., Winona, Minn.) credited with the 3.1 inning loss. Hamsund allowed two earned runs on seven hits, while
Hailey Petzel (Fy., North Mankato, Minn.) conceded two earned runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of work.
Megan Sherwood (So., Greenfield, Minn.) closed out the final inning.
Herda went 2-for-4 while
Macy McNally (So., Winona, Minn.) totaled a pair of hits to lead the Gustie bats, with the remaining hits coming from four different players.
The Gusties return to Saint Peter for their final home series of the season, hosting St. Olaf (19-13, 10-6 MIAC) for a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26.
