Kaitlyn Bicek’s grand slam propelled the Gusties to a 7-5 win over UW-River Falls.
Rochester, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus softball team defeated UW-River Falls 7-5 but fell to Luther College 4-3 on Saturday at the Rochester Community and Technical College Bubble. At 7-5 overall, the Gusties will dive into MIAC Play in two weeks with a doubleheader against Saint Mary’s University scheduled for March 25 at 3:30 p.m. in Winona.
Gustavus 7 def. UW-River Falls 5 | Box Score
After Paige Breneman (Sr., Sherburn, Minn.) gave Gustavus a 1-0 lead with a one-run single in the bottom of the second inning, UW-River Falls answered with three runs in the top of the third to go up 3-1.
The Gusties answered the Falcons’ big inning with four runs in the bottom half of the frame to go up 5-4. Kaitlyn Bicek (Jr., Northfield, Minn.) was responsible for all four runs thanks to a grand slam home run that brought in Carly Klass (Sr., Richfield, Minn.), Shelby Nosan (Sr., Baudette, Minn.), and Rachel Malo (So., Owatonna, Minn.). Bicek finished the game 2-for-4 with a run and four RBI.
Gustavus extended its lead in the fifth with what turned out to be the game-winning runs. Bicek got on base with a single to right field and then was pinch-ran for by Breanne Rentschler (Sr., Lakefield, Minn.). Rentschler later scored on an error, and Jessica Williams (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) plated Kailey Morgan (Sr., Mound, Minn.) on a double.
Williams got the win and improved to 2-0 after going six and one-third innings. She allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits with four strikeouts. Jena Willis (So., Glacier, Mont.) closed the contest with the final two outs to pick up the save.
Luther 4 def. Gustavus 3 | Box Score
Gustavus got on the scoreboard early in its matchup against the Norse, taking a 1-0 because of a lead-off bomb by Shelby Nosan. Nosan led the Gusties at the dish by going 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI.
Luther answered Gustauvs’s early strike with two runs in the bottom of the second and another in the third to go up 3-1.
The Gusties battled back to tie the game at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. After Nosan and Carly Klass got aboard with a single and a walk, respectively, Nathalee Boissiere (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) brought in Nosan with a sacrifice fly to center field. Klass tied the game an at-bat later by scoring on a wild pitch.
Despite the comeback, Gustavus couldn’t keep the Norse off the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth as a two-out single by Pennington turned out to be the game-winning hit.
Sarah Rozell (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) suffered the loss in a complete-game effort. Rozell allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and is now 1-3 on the year.