The Gustavus softball team hosted St. Ben’s on Sunday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn. The Gusties dropped the first game 2-4 to the Blazers and needed to win the second game to ensure a spot in the MIAC post-season tournament. With their back against the wall, the Gusties secured the #4 seed in conference tournament with a 4-1 victory in game two.
In game one, the Gusties went up 1-0 after the first inning of play. Ingrid Olson led off the inning with a double and advanced to third base on a Abby Bernstein sacrifice bunt. Audrey Lenoch grounded out to first-base, which allowed Olson to score. The Gusties would hold the 1-0 lead until the top of the fourth inning.
Ellie Jelsing put the Blazers on the scoreboard with a single to score Jenny Monroe from second base. Kellie Doschadis hit a grounder that took a tough hop past second-baseman Claire Mielke and snuck by right-fielder Jennifer Knutson and allowed two more runs for the Blazers. Kristin Baranek singled to score Doschadis to give St. Ben’s a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Molly Biehn singled and scored Ingrid Olson from second base to pull the Gusties within two runs. Ani Jordan would hold off Gustavus in the last two innings to earn the win on the mound for St. Ben’s. Sara Medved, who allowed nine hits in six innings, recorded the loss on the mound for Gustavus.
In game two, Abby Bernstein singled in the third inning to score Kelly Anderson from second base to give the Gusties a 1-0 lead. In the top of the fifth inning, Steph Schirmers hit a double for the Blazers to score Cassie Schlangen and tie the score 1-1.
The Gusties would answer with three runs in the fifth inning. Pinch hitter Gretchen Emich singled to lead off for Gustavus. Claire Mielke singled to put runners on first and second base for the Gusties. Ingrid Olson cranked a triple to left-center field to clear the bases with no outs. Abby Berstein recorded her second rbi of the game with a single to score Ingrid Olson from third to put the Gusties up 4-1.
Joyce Dewitz, who pitched the final one and two-thirds innings, retired five straight to help the Gusties pick up the win. Katy Berquam recorded her second win of the season on the mound, scattering five hits and allowing one run in five and one-third innings. Christina Gardner picked up the loss on the mound for the Blazers.