The Gustavus softball team swept Augsburg by the scores of 7-0 and 11-0 on Monday afternoon in St. Peter. Joyce DeWitz threw a no-hitter in the 7-0 win in game one and then Betsie Collins allowed one hit in four innings on the mound in the 11-0 win in five innings in game two. Gustavus improves to 12-2 overall and 4-0 in the MIAC.
In game one, the Gusties would get the only run they would need when Julie Mahre led off with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Gustavus increased its lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning and then broke the game open with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to make the score 7-0. Joyce DeWitz was pitching a perfect game through five innings, but she lost the bid for the perfect game when she walked an Augsburg batter with one out in the top of the sixth inning. Senior captains Abby Bernstein and Tina Strauss led the Gustie attack with two hits each. Seven different players scored for Gustavus.
The no-hitter for DeWitz was the third of her career, but the first since April of 2005. She posted the first no-hitter of her career in five innings against Bethany Lutheran College on April 4, 2005. She then recorded her second no-hitter just 10 days later when she shut down Macalester in seven innings on April 14, 2005.
In game two, Gustavus scored twice in the first inning, five time in the second inning, and three times in the third to take a 10-0 lead. The second inning was the big inning for the Gusties as they scored five runs on five hits including a RBI double by Bree Lindenberg, and RBI singles by Julie Mahre and Rachael Click. First year pitcher Betsie Collins turned in a strong performance on the mound as she limited Augsburg to no runs and one hit in four innings. Callie Nelsen came on to pitch the fifth inning allowing two hits, but picking up a strike out with two outs and two runners on to end the game. First year Jenna Johnson led the Gustie attack with three hits in three at-bats with two runs scored and one RBI.
Gustavus is scheduled to host St. Olaf in a conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 pm.