Cue Willie Nelson because the Gustavus softball team picked up its gear and headed On The Road Again. The Gusties continued their grueling 18-game road stand with a trip from Rock Island, Ill. to La Crosse, Wis. to take on UW-La Crosse on Monday. After Gustavus took game one by the score of 3-0, the Eagles bounced back with a 5-4 victory in nine innings in game two. Gustavus moves to 10-6 overall with the split, while UW-La Crosse moves to 15-4.
Kate Rentschler, the most recent recipient of the MIAC’s Pitcher-of-the-Week honor, picked up right where she left off in Sunday’s 6-0 shutout victory over Cornell. Rentschler earned her third-consecutive, complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out one batter. At the conclusion of game one, the junior ace had shut her opponents out in 22-straight innings.
For the third-straight game, Gustavus put runs on the board in the first inning. After Lisa Klass started the game with a single through the left side, the Gusties went on to score two runs on two errors by the UW-La Crosse’s infield to take a 2-0 lead.
Gustavus added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning to bring the score to a final at 3-0. Jen Ulmen, who kicked off the inning with a single through the left side, came across home plate on a MacKenzie Dalton single up the middle.
Ulmen was Gustavus’ top hitter in game one, going 2-for-4 with a run.
Gustavus 3 def. UW-La Crosse 0 | Box Score
The Gusties jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning in the nightcap. Jen Ulmen homered to lead off the inning and give Gustavus a 1-0. Shelby Nosan doubled to left field to score Sam Breneman, and Carly Klass singled up the middle to bring home Nosan, giving Gustavus the lead at 3-0.
After the Eagles tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Gustavus took back the lead at 4-3 with a run in the top of the eighth. After Lisa Klass was placed on second base to start the inning due to the international extra inning rules, Brittany Brenke moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt, and Kailey Morgan later brought her home with a double to left field.
UW-La Crosse responded with the game-tying run (4-4) in the bottom of the seventh inning on a Lindsey Sheehan single up the middle.
After the Gusties were shut down in the top of the ninth, the Eagles scored the game-winning run when Emily Sobocinski brought Cheri Pertzborn home on a suicide squeeze.
Jen Ulmen was Gustavus’ top hitter for the second-straight game, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Sarah Rozell started and pitched eight innings for Three Crowns. She allowed four runs (three earned) and struck out four batters. Kate Rentschler suffered the loss after relieving Rozell following the eighth inning. Rentschler allowed two hits and the game-winning run in the final inning.
UW-La Crosse 5 def. Gustavus 4 (9 inn.) | Box Score
The Gustavus softball team will cap its current road-stand with a doubleheader against Hamline on Wednesday, April 5 in St. Paul. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.