The Gustavus softball team kicked off its 2012 MIAC schedule with a convincing sweep of Bethel on Wednesday afternoon in Arden Hills, Minn. The Gusties picked up their first two wins in MIAC play by the scores of 9-0 in five innings in game one and 13-3 in six innings in game two. Gustavus is now 6-4 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC, while Bethel drops to 6-12 overall and 0-2 in the MIAC.
Game One
After three scoreless innings where there were just two hits recorded, Gustavus blew up for four runs in the fourth inning and five more in the fifth to earn the eight-run-rule after five innings complete. The Gusties picked up RBI singles from Christina Riester, MacKenzie Dalton, Shelby Nosan, and Carly Klass in the fourth inning to grab a 4-0 lead. After Lisa Klass belted a triple then scored on an error, Jen Ulmen hit a two-run home run to center to put Gustavus up 7-0. Shelby Nosan singled down the left field line to plate Paige Breneman and Caitlin Whitney, bringing the game to a final at 9-0.
Sarah Rozell allowed just one hit in her sixth appearance of the season. Rozell struck out three batters on the way to her fourth win of the season. She is now 4-2 with a 2.76 ERA.
Lisa Klass and Nosan led the Gusties at the plate. Klass went 2-for-3 with a one run and a triple, while Nosan went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI.
Gustavus 9 def. Bethel 0 | Box Score
Game Two
The Gusties picked up right where they left off in game two, scoring seven runs in the first two innings to go up 7-0. After a two-run first inning, Gustavus scored five runs on five hits in the second. A bases loaded Kailey Morgan double to right center cleared the bags and gave Gustavus a 5-0 lead. A double by Jen Ulmen and a single by MacKenzie Dalton later in the inning put the Black and Gold up 7-0.
After the Gusties added one run in the third and fourth innings, Bethel got on the scoreboard for the first time in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the lead to 9-1. Bethel then added two runs in the fifth inning to cut the gap to 9-3 heading into the sixth.
The Gusties put together another big frame in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs on wild pitches and two more on a Paige Breneman single.
Kate Rentschler earned the victory on the hill in game two. Rentschler went all six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out two. Rentschler, who also went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI at the plate, is now 3-1 on the year with a 3.58 ERA.
Lisa Klass recorded her second multiple-hit game of the day with a 2-for-2 performance at the dish. Klass had two runs, an RBI, and one double. Kailey Morgan was next in line, going 2-for-4 with two runs, three RBI, and one double.
The Gustavus softball team will hit the road for Rock Island, Ill. to take part in the Augustana Tournament held March 31 and April 1. The Gusties will take on UW-River Falls (10:00 a.m.) and UW-Oshkosh (2:00 p.m.) on Saturday. They will then battle Cornell at 10:00 a.m. and St. Norbert at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Gustavus 13 def. Bethel 3 | Box Score