The Gustavus softball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Regional with a convincing 11-4 win over Central in Indianola, Iowa on Thursday evening. Jenna Johnson hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Emily Wendorff hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to spark the Gustie hit parade. Betsie Collins pitched three and two-thirds innings and picked up the win. Erin Truebenbach pitched the final three and one-third innings and picked up the save. Gustavus, the #7 seed, will now play Luther, the #6 seed on Friday at 5 pm.
The Gusties got off to a fast start in the game scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Rachael Click, who was hit by a pitch, scored from first on a throwing error after Emily Wendorff had singled to centerfield. Andrea Brown singled to score Wendorff, and then Jenna Johnson hit a 240-foot blast to left field, which made the score 4-0. Gustavus increased its lead to 6-0 in the third inning with the help of an RBI single by Andrea Brown and an RBI double by Jenna Johnson.
Central scored once in the once in the third, twice in the fourth, and once in the fifth to cut the Gustavus lead to 6-4. The Gusties put the game out of reach with a five-run sixth inning. The big blow was a grand slam by Emily Wendorff, which drove in Kirsten Prunty, Emily Klein, and Rachael Click.
Betsie Collins pitched three and two-thirds innings and picked up the win. She scattered three runs and allowed three earned runs. Truebenbach came in and pitched the final three and one-third innings allowing one unearned run. She was credited with a save.
The 11 runs scored by the Gusties are the most in the program’s history in a NCAA tournament game.
Gustavus has already played second round opponent Luther once this season with the Gusties claiming a 9-5 win on March 23rd in Tucson, Arizona.
You can listen to a broadcast of the game provided by Luther. Follow this link to listen to the broadcast over the internet.
Thursday’s Results
12 p.m. – Game 1 (late start) – St. Thomas (MN) (39-4) vs. Webster (23-16)
Final Score: Webster 3 – St Thomas 1
2 p.m. – Game 2 – Wisconsin-La Crosse (34-10) vs. Wartburg (36-6)
Final Score: Wartburg 5 – Wisconsin-LaCrosse 4
4 p.m. – Game 3 – Washington-St. Louis (24-12) vs. Luther (34-9)
Final Score Luther 1- Washington-St.Louis 0
6 p.m. – Game 4 – Gustavus Adolphus (36-7) vs. Central (IA) 36-7
Final Score: Gustavus Adolphus – 11 – Central 4
Friday’s Schedule
11 a.m. – Game 5 – St. Thomas vs. Wisconsin-La Crosse
1 p.m. – Game 6 – Washington-St. Louis vs. Central
3 p.m. – Game 7 – Webster vs. Wartburg
5 p.m. – Game 8 – Luther vs. Gustavus Adolphus