MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team was swept by Hamline University Saturday morning at the Augsburg Dome, falling 2-0 and 6-2, dropping its record to 7-17 overall and 3-7 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Hamline starting pitcher Alex Molloy kept the Gustie bats quiet in game one as she went the distance in the circle, limiting Gustavus to just three hits.
Ashley Neuenfeldt (Fy., Bloomington, Minn.) took the loss on the circle for the Black and Gold despite a solid outing. Neuenfeldt tossed six innings and fanned five Piper batters while allowing two runs off six hits.
Hamline scored the eventual game-winning run in the second inning after scoring a run off of two hits, all with two outs.
Neuenfeldt, Emily Webb (Jr., Maple Lake, Minn.), and Sidney Welp (So., St. Peter, Minn.) tallied the three base hits for the Gusties.
Despite Gustavus crossing the plate twice in the top of the first inning, the Pipers answered with six runs in the bottom half, where the score stood for the rest of the game.
Neuenfeldt led off the game with a single and came around to score on an error for the first run, while an Emily Carlson (So., Burnsville, Minn.) RBI single scored Welp for the 2-0 advantage.
Hamline came back with six runs off of five hits in the first and held on to its four-run lead for six innings to seal the series sweep.
Aly Freeman (So., Omaha, Neb.) relieved Gustie starting pitcher Neuenfeldt after the second inning and threw four scoreless innings, but did not receive any run support. Neuenfeldt took the loss as her record dropped to 5-13 on the season.
Neuenfeldt (2-3), Carlson (1-2, 1 RBI), and Welp (1-3) paced Gustavus at the plate.
Tomorrow, Gustavus has another conference doubleheader versus Bethel University at Hollingsworth Field, hosting the 50th season celebration. Game one is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.