Shelby Nosan puts a tag on Jamie Rubbelke as she attempted to steal second base.
St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus softball team suffered a sweep at the hands of Hamline University on Saturday afternoon at Hollingsworth Field. The Pipers edged the Gusties 2-1 in game one before completing the sweep with a 5-2 win in game two. Gustavus falls to 5-10 overall and 2-2 in the MIAC, while Hamline improves to 6-6 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC
Game One Recap
Sarah Rozell allowed two runs on five hits in a complete-game performance in game one.
The afternoon’s opening game was a pitchers’ duel between Gustavus’s Sarah Rozell (So., Lakeville, Minn.) and Hamline’s Lauren Clouston.
After two scoreless innings, Hamline was the first to get on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the third. With two outs in the inning, Laura Randall doubled to center field, and Jamie Rubbelke scored her on a single up the middle. Rubbelke finished 2-for-3 on the afternoon.
Gustavus got runners on base in the first four innings but couldn’t come up with the big hit to bring any runs home.
In the top of the seventh inning, Hamline added a critical run to its lead when Jenna Dushaw ripped a line drive to left field to bring across Brittany Bredemus.
Facing a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the final inning, Kailey Morgan (So., Mound, Minn.) got on base with a one-out single to right field. After Carly Klass (So., Richfield, Minn.) popped out to second for the second out, Christina Riester (Sr., Wabasha, Minn.) cut the lead to 2-1 with a double to the right-center field gap. Clouston was able to bear down at that point and get the final out of the inning on a Paige Breneman (So., Sherburn, Minn.) pop fly to first base.
Clouston improved to 3-2 with the victory, allowing one run on seven hits. Sarah Rozell took the loss and is now 3-4 on the year. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out seven.
Brittany Brenke (Jr., Le Sueur, Minn.) and Morgan led the Gusties at the dish. Brenke went 2-for-3, while Morgan was 2-for-2.
Game Two Recap
After rain delayed the start of game two, Hamline picked up right where it left off with two runs in the first inning. With runners and second and third, Cecily Abbadessa singled up the middle to put the Pipers on top 2-0.
Gustavus answered with a run in the bottom of the second inning, cutting the lead to 2-1. Kate Rentschler (Sr., Lakefield, Minn.) hit a double to left field and Kailey Morgan followed her with a single to right. Rentschler then scored on a Sam Breneman (Sr., Sherburn, Minn.) ground ball to second.
Kailey Morgan went a combined 4-for-5 at the plate against Hamline.
Hamline added a run in the top of the third inning and two more in the fifth to grab a 5-1 advantage. Randall doubled to score Hine, and Hammann advanced home on a throwing error by Gustavus while attempting to steal third base in the fifth.
Gustavus picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth when Alison Eder-Zdechlik (Fy., Stillwater, Minn.), who was running for Morgan after she singled with one out, came around to score. Morgan recorded her second straight multiple-hit game, going 2-for-3.
Facing a three-run deficit heading into their final at-bat, the Gusties got their leadoff hitter of the inning on base when Breanne Rentschler (So., Lakefield, Minn.) bunted for a single. Hamline pitcher Brianna Vela put to rest any comeback hopes after that by sitting down the next three hitters in order.
Vela improved to 3-3 with the complete-game victory. She allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits. Kate Rentschler saw her record fall to 2-6 with the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits. Rentschler was also 2-for-3 with a double and a run at the plate.
The Gustavus softball team will be back on the diamond Wednesday, April 10 when it travels to St. Paul to face Macalester in a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m.