The Gustavus softball team went 1-1 in the opening two rounds of the MIAC Playoffs on Friday, defeating Saint Mary’s 3-0 and falling to St. Thomas 3-1. Gustavus’ Kate Rentschler recorded her third consecutive complete-game shutout win against the Cardinals, while Erin Truebenbach suffered the loss on the rubber against St. Thomas. The Gusties move to 26-13-1 on the season and will face Saint Mary’s in the rematch on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The Cardinals advanced after defeating Hamline 7-4.
Gustavus took an early 1-0 lead against Saint Mary’s in the bottom of the second inning. Mackenzie Dalton got aboard on a two-out double and Kelly Myers knocked her home the next at bat.
Jen Ulmen added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning on a two-run homer that extended Gustavus’ lead to-3-0. The Cardinals would tally seven hits in the game, stranding a total of eight runners.
Mackenzie Dalton went 2-for-3 with a run, while Dani Cattrysse also went 2-for-3. The homer was Jen Ulmen’s fifth of the season.
Gustavus took the early lead against the Tommies as well, scoring a run on a solo shot by Jen Ulmen in the top of the third inning.
The lead wouldn’t last long, as St. Thomas broke the game open with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Truebenbach would go the full six innings, giving up a total of seven hits. St. Thomas’ Sitzmann got the win on the hill, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings.