Sarah Rozell allowed just four hits in Wednesday’s game two shutout.
Northfield, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team picked up a sweep over Carleton College in a pair of tightly contested, two-run games on Wednesday afternoon at Knights Field. Tied 3-3 headed to the seventh, the Gusties scored three runs in the top of the inning to capture a 6-4 win in game one. Gustavus followed with a solid defensive performance in game two, shutting out the Knights 2-0. With the sweep, Gustavus improves to 13-9 overall and 7-1 in the MIAC, while Carleton drops to 5-16 overall and 3-3 in league play.
Game 1 – Gustavus 6, Carleton 4
The Gusties opened the afternoon with a dramatic 6-4 win on Wednesday. Carleton was the first to strike in the contest, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a leadoff home run from Jenny Ramey. The long ball proved to be the only run in the bottom of the first.
The Knights held the one-run lead through the next two innings before Gustavus came back to score a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Lydia Wagner (Fy., Zumbrota, Minn.) delivered a two-out RBI single, then stole second to get into scoring position for Shelby Nosan (Jr., Baudette, Minn.). Nosan came through with a double that scored Wagner and give the Gusties a 2-1 lead.
Gustavus added another run in the top of the fifth thanks to a Carleton throwing error to extend its lead to 3-1 before the Knights answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at three apiece. Katrina Harper came up big with a two-run single to score the runs.
Each team left a runner on base in the sixth, but could not score as they went to the seventh still tied. With runners on first and second in the top of the seventh, Jaden Fischer (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) delivered an RBI single to left field. The next batter, Hannah Heacox (Fy., Stillwater, Minn.), came through with a two-run single up the middle to extend the Gustavus lead to 6-3, which is all the Gusties would need as the Knights could only manage one run in the bottom of the final frame.
For the game, Nosan led the way at the plate for the Gusties. The junior went 2 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI, while Heacox went 1 for 2 with two big RBI. Jenny Ramey shone the brightest for the Knight lineup, going 3 for 4 with two homers, two RBI and three runs scored.
On the rubber, Hannah Heacox was awarded the win after throwing two and a third innings in relief after Jessica Williams (So., Plymouth, Minn.) went the first four and two-thirds. Keelin Davis suffered the loss for the Knights.
Shelby Nosan went 4 for 8 at the plate on Wednesday.
Game 2 – Gustavus 2, Carleton 0
The Gusties were stellar defensively in game two, shutting out the Knights 2-0. After avoiding a Carleton scoring threat in the bottom of the first, Gustavus got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning when a two-out single to center field by Nathalee Boissiere (So., Plymouth, Minn.) brought Kaitlyn Bicek (So., Northfield, Minn.) around to score from second to take the 1-0 lead.
From there, the Gusties put the clamps on defensively as no Knight base runner would advance past second. Only four Carleton players would reach base safely in the game as Sarah Rozell (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) allowed just four hits and did not surrender a walk.
Gustavus added an insurance run in the top of the fifth when Brittany Brenke (Sr., Le Sueur, Minn.) singled down the left field line, bringing Lydia Wagner all the way around from first to score and extend the Gustie lead to 2-0. It was all the Gustie women would need in the shutout win.
Nosan led the way again at the dish for Gustavus with a 2 for 4 performance, while Brenke and Boissiere each recorded an RBI. Ramey paced the Knights in game two as well with a 2 for 4 day.
In the circle, Sarah Rozell was lights out, going all seven innings and allowing just one run on four hits and striking out three without a walk. Keelin Davis suffered her second loss of the day in game two, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out six in seven innings of work.
Gustavus will be back on the diamond this weekend when it hosts the University of St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon at the Gustie Softball Field. Saturday’s doubleheader is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.