The one-two punch of Gustie pitchers Erin Truebenbach and Kate Rentschler was too much for Augsburg, as the Gustavus softball team earned its second straight MIAC series sweep by topping the Auggies 4-1 and 12-0 on Monday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn. Gustavus improves to 20-11-1 overall and 13-2-1 in the MIAC with the wins, while Augsburg falls to 18-17 overall and 7-10 in the MIAC.
Truebenbach gave up one run on two hits in a complete-game, ten-strikeout performance in game one, while Rentschler no-hit Augsburg in four innings of work in game two, facing 14 batters in the shutout. The Gusties out-hit the Auggies 21-to-3 on the day. Dani Cattrysse led the way at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs and four RBI in the doubleheader.
The Gusties got on the scoreboard first in game one, scoring a run in the first inning when Cattrysse lined a two-out single to center field to bring Lisa Klass around to score (1-0). Klass led the game off with a double left field.
Gustavus added two more runs in the third inning to extend its lead to 3-0. Cattrysse came up with another RBI with runners on base, this time doubling to the right-center gap to plate Jenny Ewert. She went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI in the game. In the following at-bat, Jen Ulmen hit a single to left field to plate Cattrysse and give the Gusties a three-run edge.
The Gusties picked up an insurance run in the fourth inning when Rentschler skied a home run over the left field fence to bring the score to 4-1. It was Rentschler’s third homer of the season and first since she knocked one out on April 5, against St. Catherine.
One of only two blemishes to Truebenbach’s stat line came in the top of the fourth inning when Allyson Ruedy lifted a pitch out of the park to left field, cutting the lead to 3-1. Truebenbach, who improved to 7-3 with the victory, allowed one hit to the remaining 10 batters of game following the home run.
The Gusties put up runs in all four of their turns at the plate in game two, scoring three runs in the first inning, four in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth to earn the eight-run rule after five complete. The Gusties recorded their second-highest hit total (12) within conference play this season in the nightcap.
Emily Wendorff and Cattrysse both went 2-for-2 in the game. Wendorff had two runs and an RBI, and Cattrysse drove in a pair of runs. The duo, batting third and fourth in Jeff Annis’ lineup, has combined for 35 RBI on the season.
Gustavus senior Amy Lynch added the finishing touches to the day with a first-pitch three-run blast over the left field fence to give the Gusties a 12-0 advantage. The home run is Lynch’s first of her collegiate career.
Kate Rentschler improved to 13-7 on the year with the win. Bethany Flohrs pitched the final inning of the game, giving up a lead-off hit yet forcing a ground ball double play the next at-bat. It was Flohrs’ first appearance on the hill since going three innings at Concordia on April 9.
The Gustavus softball team will head back on the road for a MIAC test against Macalester on Thursday, April 28 in St. Paul. First pitch of game one is set for 4:00 p.m.