ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Trailing 6-0 and down to its final three outs, the Gustavus softball team rallied for five runs in the seventh inning Thursday at Saint Benedict, but couldn’t plate the tying run in a 6-5 loss in the MIAC playoffs. The Gusties finish the season 15-22 overall after reaching the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Saint Ben’s took a 1-0 lead in the first inning without registering a hit. A walk, stolen base, groundout, and wild pitch led to the run. The Gusties threatened in the second frame by loading the bases after two walks and an error, but a strikeout ended the rally.
The Bennies went up 2-0 in the fourth after a leadoff triple and RBI single. The home team extended its lead to 5-0 in the fifth with three runs on four hits. The damage could have been worse, but Piper Otto (So., Brooklyn Park) stranded the bases full with a strikeout. Otto tossed five innings, taking the loss after allowing six hits with two strikeouts.
Payton Belt (Sr., Indianola, Iowa) entered in the sixth and allowed one run on three hits as the Bennies took a comfortable 6-0 advantage entering the seventh and final inning.
Madelyn Mueller (So., North Mankato) started the seventh inning rally with a hit-by-pitch, followed by a single from Kaylyn Leonard (Sr., Plymouth), and an RBI single by Rachel Kawiecki (Fy., Richfield). After a Bennie pitching change, Kayla Ruud (Jr., Savage) was hit by a pitch and Greta Dahlen (Fy., West Des Moines, Iowa) reached on an error, allowing Leonard to score. Belt ensued with an RBI single to score Kawiecki. After a groundout for the first out of the inning, Isabel Reuvers (So., Medford) drew a bases-loaded walk to score the fourth run. Kayla Herda (Fy., Farmington) then grounded out, allowing pinch runner Shelby Ringwelski (Fy., Forest Lake) to score and make it a one-run deficit. With the tying run on third base, the Gustie rally came to an end with a grounder to second.
The Gusties were limited to four hits in the game, led by Kawiecki who batted 2-for-4 with a run, RBI, and double.