Release Courtesy of Matt Higgins – MIAC Assistant Executive Director
The Gustavus softball team had an outstanding week and locked up the No. 2 seed in the MIAC Softball Playoffs, with a rookie performing beyond her years on the mound throughout the crucial stretch of the schedule. First-year pitcher Hannah Heacox (Stillwater, Minn.) didn’t allow an earned run in 27.2 innings last week, going 4-0 with a save in six appearances. She struck out 37 batters and allowed just seven hits and three walks. For her performance, Heacox was named the MIAC Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week.
Heacox started her big week with a two-hit shutout of St. Catherine in a 6-0 victory, which included nine strikeouts and no walks. She earned a two-inning save in a 2-0 game-two win against the Wildcats. She also closed the week with a three-hit shutout of Hamline in a 2-0 win with eight strikeouts and just one walk. She threw three no-hit innings against Concordia and allowed just two hits in 8.2 innings against Augsburg. This season, Heacox is 11-2 with one save and a 2.25 ERA. She has 105 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched. In conference play, her 83 strikeouts lead the league, her nine wins rank second and her 1.91 ERA is fourth.
Overall, Gustavus went 7-1 last week to wrap up the regular season in strong fashion. Heacox and company finished with a 23-13 overall record and a second-place MIAC finish with a 17-5 conference record. The Gusties will begin the MIAC Softball Playoffs as the No. 2 seed, and will take on the tournament’s No. 3 seed in the first round Friday at Augsburg at 3 p.m. The two-day, double-elimination tournament will be hosted by both Augsburg and Macalester.