Two high scoring innings proved to be the difference in 9-0 and 8-0 decisions between the Gustavus softball team and Bethel University in St. Peter on Tuesday. The Gusties scored nine runs in the first inning in game one and seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning in game two to complete both games in five innings. Gustavus, which improved to 16-5 overall and 7-3 in the conference, posted its first MIAC doubleheader shutout since the Gusties shut out Hamline 4-0 and 6-0 on April 17, 2007.
Julie Mahre set the tone for the Gustavus offense in the first game as she led off the game with a single, then stole second base. Rachael Click went on to hit a double to score Mahre from third base. Six straight Gustie batters reached base after Click to score six additional runs, as Bethel committed three errors and gave up only two hits on the way a 9-0 lead.
Nine runs was enough run support for Callie Nelsen as she held the Bethel offense to two hits, while striking out ten batters, as she improved her record to 7-2 overall. Rebekah Akerson suffered the loss as she allowed nine hits and seven unearned runs in 0.2 runs. Click and Andrea Brown drove in two runs each in the contest.
In game two, Bethel had the first scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth inning as Lisa Patnode led off the inning with a single. Patnode advanced to second base after a wild pitch, before moving to third after Laura Naig hit an infield single. With two runners on base and zero outs, Gustavus pitcher Betsie Collins struck out Kelly Berg and forced Lauren Habisch and Amber Beasley to pop up without any runs crossing the plate. Rachael Click responded to the scoring threat in the bottom of the fourth by hitting her sixth home run of the season to give Gustavus a 1-0 lead heading into the fifth inning.
Jenny Ewert started the fifth inning with a single to right field, as Mackenzie Weber drew a full-count walk to give Gustavus two runners on base with zero outs. Mahre drilled a two-run double to the gap in right center field to score Ewert and Weber. After Andrea Brown reached on a single, Click broke the game open with single that scored Mahre and Brown. Emily Wendorff hit a RBI single to drive in Click and advance Emily Klein after she hit a double to center field. The sixth run of the inning came after Leigh Weber grounded out to second base to drive in Klein. With one out, Wendroff scored the game-deciding run after the Royals committed an error on a Kelly Myers hit.
Betsie Collins picked up her sixth win as she gave up two hits while striking out five batters. Click finished the game 2-for-3, scoring two runs and driving in three runs, as she passed Molly Biehn for second-place on the career RBI list with 102 RBI.
Gustavus will travel to Hamline on Thursday to face the Pipers at 4 p.m. in St. Paul.