Lisa Klas went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs and two RBI in game one against St. Kate's.
St. Paul, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team was able to grind out a pair of wins on Tuesday night against the St. Catherine, winning 6-3 in game one and 3-1 in game two to earn a sweep and improve to 13-1 in the MIAC and 21-7 overall. St. Catherine drops to 3-11 in the MIAC and 10-18 overall with the losses.
Game One
The Gusties came out firing in the first inning of game one, putting three runs on the scoreboard off of three hits. After Lisa Klass doubled to the left-center field gap to start the game, Brittany Brenke walked and Kailey Morgan ripped a three-run home run to put Gustavus up 3-0. The blast was Morgan’s second of the season, as she finished 1-for-4 with a run and three RBI.
Lisa Klass continued to sting the ball later in the game, hitting a one-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to put Gustavus up 4-0. Klass, who saw her career-best hitting-streak end at 13 games last Saturday, now has two home runs on the season. The senior second baseman finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI at the plate.
The Wildcats responded to the Klass bomb with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and another in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the lead to 4-3.
Gustavus added a pair of insurance runs (6-3) in the top of the seventh when Klass drove in Shelby Nosan with a single to right-center, and Brenke plated Klass and a base hit to center. Brenke went 2-for-2 with a double, a run, and a RBI in the opener.
Sarah Rozell slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh, sitting St. Kate’s down in order to pick up her first save of the year.
Kate Rentschler earned the victory for the Gusties, improving to 11-3 on the season. Rentschler went six innings, allowed three runs (two earned runs) on four hits while striking out three.
Game Two
After two scoreless innings to start game two, Gustavus was able to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Carly Klass knocked out a one-run homer, the first of her career, to lead off the inning.
Gustavus scored another run to go up 2-0 in the top of the fourth when MacKenzie Dalton doubled to center field, scoring Christina Riester. Riester was pinch running for Kate Rentschler who doubled to right-center to lead off the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, St. Catherine ended Gustavus starter Sarah Rozell’s scoreless inning streak with a run on a single through the right side by Shae Elliott. Rozell had pitched 23.2 innings without giving up a run prior to this afternoon. She would pick up the win (11-2) in a complete-game, one-run, four-hit performance.
Rentschler would drive in Gustavus’ final run of the game in the top of the sixth, bringing the score to a final at 3-1. She and MacKenzie Dalton led the Gusties at the dish in game two, as both juniors went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI.
The Gustavus softball team will be back at home to take on Carleton in its next outing scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 19 at the Gustie Softball Field. First pitch for game one of Thursday’s twin bill is set for 3:30 p.m.
Way to go Gustie girls! Wish we would have been there to see the games! Keep up the good work…Gramma Shari (Kenzies gram)