The Gustavus softball team improved to 6-0 in the MIAC by sweeping St. Olaf on Monday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn. The Gusties won 9-1 in five innings in game one and 3-0 in game two, earning their second straight conference sweep. Gustavus improves to 11-9 overall, while St. Olaf falls to 5-15 overall and 2-3 in the MIAC.
Kate Rentschler (10-6) and Erin Truebenbach (3-2) picked up wins on the hill for the Gusties. Lisa Klass and Dani Cattrysse each had three hits on the day with Klass going 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI, and Cattrysse going 3-for-4 with a run and three RBI.
Just like in game one against Concordia on Saturday, Gustavus opened up the contest with five runs in the first inning. The Gusties recorded three hits in the inning, as Rentschler and Cattrysse both tallied RBI singles. Rentschler, Cattrysse, and Kelly Myers share the team-lead with 11 RBI so far this year.
The Oles would score a run on four hits in the top of the third inning to cut the lead to 5-1. Kjirsten Speer notched the RBI single to score Kari Zimmerman. With two outs and runners on first and second later in the inning, Julie Fergus singled up the middle and Melanie Brooks was waved around third. Gustavus centerfielder Jenny Ewert fielded the hit cleanly, hitting Cattrysse with a rope to gun down Brooks at home for the third out of the inning. It was Ewert’s third outfield assist of the season.
Gustavus pushed the lead to 8-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Kelly Myers doubled over the head of Ole centerfielder Speer to bring Jen Ulmen and Amy Lynch around to score. Klass knocked in the other run with a single up the middle.
After a pair of one-out singles by St. Olaf in the top of the fourth inning, Rentschler was able get out of the jam with a two straight ground ball outs. The Gusties earned the eight run rule in the bottom of the inning when Jen Ulmen drove home Rentschler, who led off the inning with a double to center field.
The Oles got two runners aboard with in the fifth inning, but Rentschler was able to bear down again and keep the Oles off the board. She earned her 10th win of the season with the victory, giving up one run on eight hits. McNeff suffered the loss for the Oles, going two innings and giving up eight runs on four hits.
Klass, Rentschler, and Cattrysse all had two hits in the game. Klass went 2-for-3 with a triple, run and an RBI, Rentschler went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI, and Cattrysse went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Kelly Myers recorded a season-high three RBI, going 1-for-3 with a run.
After being eased back into the starting rotation following an extended period sidelined due to injury, Erin Truebenbach tallied her first complete seven-inning performance since Feb. 5 in Hawaii. The senior posted her third consecutive shutout, giving up five hits and striking out four.
The first run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Kirsten Prunty plated Wendorff on an infield single to short, giving Gustavus a 1-0 lead. The Gusties extended the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Cattrysse drove in Ewert on a single down the left field line. Ewert got aboard with a double to center field. She is currently tied for the team-lead in doubles so far this season with seven.
Christina Riester put down a bunt in the sixth inning that scored Lynch, adding an insurance run and extending the lead to 3-0, and Truebenbach sat down the Oles in order in the top of the seventh inning to secure the win.
Wendorff went 2-for-3 with a run at the plate, while Jen Ulmen also went 2-for-3. Katie Truax suffered the loss for St. Olaf, giving up three runs on eight hits.
The Gusties will hit the road on Wednesday, April 13 for a doubleheader with Carleton in Northield, Minn. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.