The Gustavus softball team picked up a 5-2 upset victory over St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon in Shoreview, Minn., but fell in game two of the MIAC Playoff title game 8-0 to the Tommies, ending its season with a 34-9 overall record.
Game One
After St. Thomas scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to go up 1-0, Gustavus responded with four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-1 lead. Kailey Morgan led off the inning by drawing a walk, and Carly Klass doubled to right-center field to score her and tie the game at 1-1. Brittany Brenke then slapped a double down the left field line to bring home Carly and Lisa Klass and put Gustavus up 3-0. Sarah Rozell brought home the final run of the frame (4-1) with a single to left.
The Tommies cut the lead to 4-2 with a run in the bottom of the fourth, and Gustavus brought the score to a final at 5-2 with a run in the top of the sixth. Kat Dahl led off the inning with a single to right and Christina Riester was put in to pinch run for her. Carly Klass recorded her second RBI of the game with a single to left-center, bringing in Riester.
Klass led the Gusties at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Brenke went 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI.
Kate Rentschler earned the win in game one after allowing two runs (one earned run) in four innings. Sarah Rozell picked up a three-inning save, shutting the Tommies down on three hits.
The Gusties couldn’t keep the momentum rolling into what would determine the 2012 MIAC Playoff Championship. Gustavus found its bats go cold, recording just one hit in the game.
After scoring seven runs on five hits and taking advantage of two Gustie errors, St. Thomas took an early 7-0 win in the bottom of the second. Tommie starter Kendra Bowe went into cruise control with the big lead, striking out four batters and allowing just one hit in a five-inning shutout.
Sarah Rozell suffered the loss after making it one and one third innings. She allowed seven runs on five hits.
The Gustavus softball team will now play the waiting game as it looks for an at-large bid into the 2012 NCAA Tournament.