The Gustavus softball team split its first MIAC contests of the season against Augsburg College after winning the first game 7-2 and losing the second game 9-4 on Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis. Defensive miscues were the story of both games as the Gusties scored five unearned runs in the first game and the Auggies scored five unearned runs in the second game. Gustavus dropped to 11-3 overall and 1-1 in the MIAC, while Augsburg improved to 9-15 overall and 5-1 in league play.
Gustavus jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning as Emily Klein hit a single to center field driving in Julie Mahre from second base. Later, Leigh Weber tapped a single to left field that scored Rachael Click from second.
Emily Wendorff and Mahre both hit two RBI doubles down the left field line as part of a five-run third inning, which proved to be enough run support for the Gustavus pitching staff. Callie Nelsen pitched four innings and Erin Truebenbach threw three innings to hold the Augsburg offense to four hits and one earned run in the contest. Nelsen earned the victory as she improved to 5-1 this season. Sarah Green picked up the loss as Gustavus scored seven runs on eight hits.
Game two began in a similar fashion as the Gusties built a 3-0 lead after Kirsten Prunty hit a triple to center field with the bases loaded. Prunty went on to score after Jenny Ewert hit a sacrifice fly to center field. However, the Auggies scored nine runs after this point. Augsburg scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning Sarah Mueller scored after leading off with an infield single. Laura Strandell then crossed home plate after a wild pitch from Gustavus’ Betsie Collins. Tiffany Magnuson led off the bottom of the third inning with a double into right field to start a three-run inning. Jennifer Castillo drove in Magnuson, then stole second and third base and scored after a Gustavus error. The Gusties committed an additional error in frame, which led to another Auggie run. Augsburg went on to score two more runs in the fourth and sixth innings, as Auggie pitchers limited the Gustavus lineup to four hits after the second inning.
Betsie Collins suffered her second loss of the season as her record fell to 4-2 after throwing 3.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits. Nelsen pitched in relief of Collins giving two hits and one earned run. Kirsten Prunty was the only player to record multiple hits as she finished 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in three RBI. Augsburg’s Melissa Larsen earned her first win of the season.
Gustavus is scheduled to travel to UW-Stout on Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.