ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team dropped a pair of MIAC games to second-place Saint Benedict on Sunday, April 27 at the CSB Softball Field.
Errors cost the Gusties (19-19, 9-11 MIAC) eight unearned runs in an 8-3 game one loss, while 11 hits were turned for only two runs in a 6-2 game two defeat. Seniors
Kayla Herda and
Greta Dahlen led the top of the order off with two hita apiece in each game, but the team batted just 4-for-25 (.160) with runners in scoring position.
Gustavus 3, Saint Benedict 8
Gustavus took the first lead of game one, 2-0, in the top of the second inning. Running for
Carly Olson (So., Luverne, Minn.), who walked to get on base,
Olivia Guggenberger (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) was moved into scoring position thanks to a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a
Lauren Lambert (Jr., Woodbury, Minn.) RBI double to left field.
A fielder's choice bunt from
Breck Carlson (So., North Mankato, Minn.) drove in the second of the game for the Gusties with one out, but two were stranded on base to end the top of the second.
The Gusties' lead was quickly erased, as CSB (23-13, 15-5 MIAC) topped it with three of their own in the bottom half of the same frame. Saint Benedict scored on an error and a pair of RBI singles for a 3-2 advantage.
A five-run fourth inning featured five Bennie hits and another costly error for the Gustie defense put the game out of reach. Herda (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) scored on a two-out RBI single from Olson for the 8-3 final.
Ava Hamsund (So., Winona, Minn.) earned the loss, allowing five runs off four hits in 3.1 innings of work. She struck out two batters and allowed three free passes.
Hailey Petzel (Fy., Mankato, Minn.), in 2.2 innings of relief, conceded three runs off six hits, striking out two batters of her own.
Herda and classmate Dahlen each went 2-for-4, while four other Gusties accounted for a hit in game one.
Gustavus 2, Saint Benedict 6
The Gusties out-hit Saint Benedict 11-6 in game two, but struggled to capitalize on plate appearances with runners on.
Maizie Anderson (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) struckout five batters while allowing just two free passes, but a two-run homer in a three-run fourth inning separated the home team's lead.
Olson brought Herda home once more in the second game of the series, singling to center field with two outs and a 1-0 Gustie lead. CSB loaded the bases three times, twice with just one out, in the bottom of the first, but only got one run past Anderson to tie the score at one apiece.
A sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run for the Bennies in the second, while an RBI double and two-out home run to left put CSB up 5-1. Lambert grounded out with the bases loaded to score Herda's third run of the day and cut the lead to three, 5-2.
Saint Benedict added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a solo shot to left, while the Gusties left the bases loaded in the top of the seventh.
Herda and Dahlen were 2-for-4 once more in game two, while three other Gusties totaled two hits.
The Gusties conclude their regular season on Saturday, May 3, traveling to Northfield to face Carleton (12-26, 6-14 MIAC) for a 1 and 3 p.m. doubleheader.
