The Gustavus softball team pounded out 30 hits in its doubleheader against Macalester on Thursday afternoon in St. Paul, sweeping the Scots by scores of 13-0 and 18-2. The Gusties, who extended their winning streak to six games with the victories, improve to 22-11-1 overall and 15-2-1. Macalester falls to 8-24 overall and 1-15 in the MIAC.
The Gusties belted out a season-high 17 hits, as six different Gustavus players recorded multiple-hits in the first contest of the afternoon’s doubleheader. Kate Rentschler led the way at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs and four RBI. Rentschler now has four home runs on the season and has eclipsed the 20-RBI mark with 22.
The Gusties were on the board early for six runs in the first inning, taking a 6-0 lead after one. They would add three more runs in the third inning (9-0), and four more in the fourth to bring the game to a final at 13-0.
Erin Truebenbach got the win in three innings of work on the hill. She improves to 8-3 on the year, giving up just one hit. Bethany Flohrs finished the final two innings, allowing one hit.
Gustavus grabbed an early lead in game two as well, scoring two runs on two hits to go up 2-0. Jen Ulmen knocked a triple to left to score Ewert, before touching home plate herself on an error.
The Gusties broke the game open with a ten-run inning in the top of the third to go up 12-0. They notched five hits in the inning, as Emily Wendorff ripped a three-run home run to cap the frame. She finished 1-for-3 with two runs and three RBI.
Macalester got two runs back in the bottom of the third inning, but could not keep the Gusties off the scoreboard for the remainder, as Gustavus added five runs in the fourth (17-2) and one run in the fifth (18-2).
Kate Rentschler picked up her 14th win of the season in a three-inning effort. She gave up two runs on three hits, while Flohrs gave up one hit in two innings to close the game. Emily Gruhlke, Jen Ulmen, and Caitlin Whitney all went 2-for-2 in the game, while Jenny Ewert extended her hitting-streak to seven games with hits in both contests.
The Gustavus softball team will look to continue its winning ways in St. Peter on Saturday, April 30 against the College of Saint Benedict. The doubleheader is designated as Senior Day and will begin at 1:00 p.m.