The Gustavus softball team extended its winning streak to 12 games with a doubleheader sweep of Bethel in Arden Hills on Tuesday afternoon. The Gusties 5-1 win in the first game was the 600th win in the history of the Gustavus softball program. In the second game, sophomore Erin Truebenbach pitched her second consecutive no-hitter as the Gusties won by the score of 6-0. Gustavus is now 21-3 overall and 10-0 in the MIAC.
The Gusties jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning of the first game when Lisa Klass hit a two-out, bases loaded double, which drove in Emily Wendorff and Andrea Brown. Wendorff had tripled to open the inning. Gustavus held a slim 2-1 lead through six innings, but then broke the game open with three runs in the top of the seventh. Kirsten Prunty and Dani Cattrysse singled to open the inning and then Lisa Klass came up with another clutch hit, this time a single that drove in Prunty for a 3-1 Gustavus lead. Emily Klein walked to load the bases and then Amy Lynch (who was pinch-running for Cattrysse) and Klass scored on a passed ball extending the Gustie lead to 5-1. Callie Nelsen picked up the complete game win on the mound for Gustavus. She scattered three hits and allowed one earned run, while striking out four and walking two. With the win, the Gusties moved their all-time record to 600-400-3 (41 seasons).
In game two, Gustavus scored six times in the second inning and that is all they would need as sophomore pitcher Erin Truebenbach fired her second consecutive no-hitter and improved her season record to 8-1. With two out in the second inning and the Gusties leading 3-0, Rachael Click hit a two-run home run giving Gustavus a 5-0 lead. The home run was the 23rd of Click’s career and moved her into first place in career home runs for the Gusties past previous record holder Julie Mahre with 22. Emily Wendorff followed Click’s home run with one of her own making the score 6-0. Truebenbach shut the Royals down the rest of the way and claimed the complete game victory. She struck out nine and walked two in seven innings of work.
Gustavus will host Hamline in a conference doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 4:00 pm.