The Gustavus softball team swept Hamline by the scores of 4-0 and 6-0 on Tuesday afternoon in St. Peter and extended its winning streak to 14 games. The Gusties improved to 18-2 overall and 10-0 in the MIAC. Joyce DeWitz pitched two complete games on the mound for Gustavus scattering seven hits and striking out 14, while not allowing a run. Erin Ge led the offensive attack with four hits in five at-bats and 2 RBI in the doubleheader.
In the first game, the Gusties scored single runs in four different innings while Joyce DeWitz shut the Pipers down allowing only two hits and striking out ten. Gustavus worked hard to manufacture its four runs, as Julie Mahre scored on a passed ball in the first inning, Erin Ge scored on a throwing error in the third inning, Rachael Click scored on a sacrifice fly by Abby Bernstein in the fifth inning, and Hannah Spitzack scored on a single by Ge in the sixth. Ge went 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Gusties at the plate.
In the second game, Gustavus jumped out to an early lead as Julie Mahre opened with a double. Click singled and Mahre scored on a throwing error that allowed Click to advance to third base. Emily Klein singled which scored Click. The Gusties scored again in the third inning as Andrea Brown singled and later scored on a single by Klein. Jenna Johnson started the fourth inning with a double and Coach Annis inserted Hannah Spitzack as a pinch runner for Johnson. Allison Haase put down a sacrifice bunt advancing Spitzack to third and then Ge hit a fly ball to right field that scored Spitzack. Gustavus closed out the scoring in the fifth inning as Abby Bernstein drove in Andrea Brown with a double and then Sarah Willis, who pinch ran for Bernstein, scored on a single by Klein giving the Gusties a 6-0 lead. Joyce DeWitz turned in another strong performance on the mound by throwing all seven innings and giving up five hits, while striking out four. DeWitz improved to 11-1 overall and 6-0 in the MIAC.
Julie Mahre saw her nine-game hitting streak come to an end as she was held hitless in game one before picking up two hits in game two. She did however, score a run in both games and now has scored at least one run in 10 consecutive games.
The Gusties will continue their busy week with a non-conference doubleheader at Martin Luther College in New Ulm on Wednesday at 4:00 pm followed by a conference doubleheader against Saint Mary’s on Thursday at 4:00 pm in St. Peter.