Senior Sarah Rozell set the tone for the day by allowing just one unearned run through five innings of work in game one against Concordia.
St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus softball team used a strong showing by its pitching staff to come away with a sweep over Concordia College in its home-opener on Friday afternoon at the Gustie Softball Field. Thanks to the combined pitching performances of Sarah Rozell (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.), Jena Willis (So., Glacier, Mont.), and Hannah Heacox (So., Stillwater, Minn.) Gustavus was able earn it’s first league sweep of the year by way of a 4-1 win in game one and a 4-0 win in game two.
With the wins. Gustavus improves to 13-9 overall and 3-1 in the MIAC. Concordia is now 8-7 overall and 2-4 in the MIAC.
The Gustie softball team will return to action on Monday, April 6 when it travels to Winona to face Saint Mary’s University in an MIAC doubleheader slated for 2:30 p.m.
Game One Recap
Concordia was the first to strike in the top of the first inning when Madison Little came across home plate on a passed ball. From that point on, Gustavus starter Sarah Rozell shut down the Cobber offense and was able to get out of several jams. Rozell picked up the win to improve to 3-5 after five innings of work. She allowed just the one unearned run in the first inning, gave up seven hits, and stuck out five.
The Gusties answered Concordia’s early lead with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 advantage. After Paige Breneman (Sr., Sherburn, Minn.) reached on an error by the Cobber shortstop, Jessica Williams (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) got aboard with a single up the middle, and Rachel Malo (So., Owatonna, Minn.) cleared the bases with a liner to the right-center field gap.
Hannah Heacox allowed just one hit and stuck out 13 in game two’s 4-0 victory over the Cobbers.
Gustavus took advantage of an error once again in the third inning. Carly Klass (Sr., Richfield, Minn.) reached on that error, advanced to third on a infield ground ball the next at-bat, and was then brought in thanks to single down the left field line by Kailey Morgan (Sr., Mound, Minn.).
Klass kicked off a one-run fifth inning with a double down the left field line. Morgan followed with a lining single to right field, and Hannah Heacox drove in Klass with a looping Texas-leaguer that dropped in for a base hit behind the Cobber second baseman.
Jena Willis relieved Rozell in the sixth and picked up her second save of the season in two innings of work. Willis faced seven batters and allowed one hit.
Concordia’s Hillary Rotunda suffered the loss (4-4) after allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits.
Game Two Recap
Madison Little led off game two with a single up the middle. Little’s hit turned out to be Concordia’s only one of the game, as Hannah Heacox pitched a one-hit shutout to lead the Gusties to the sweep. Heacox has won four straight games and is now 4-1 thanks to her second consecutive complete-game shutout. She faced 24 batters and matched her season-high with 13 strikeouts. Heacox finished the game by sitting down the last 12 Cobber batters in order.
Gustavus’s offense got on the scoreboard early with three runs on four hits in the first inning. Kailey Morgan lined a one-run single to center field to score Shelby Nosan for the first run. A batter later, Hannah Heacox singled to center, and Morgan scored on an error on the same play. Paige Breneman capped off the inning by driving in Heacox with a single to left field.
Gustavus tacked on another run to bring the score to a final in the fourth. Jena Willis got on base with a double to right field, and Brooke Falk (Sr., Glenwood, Minn.) took her spot on the bases. Rachel Malo delivered two batters later with a two-out, one-run single to bring in Falk.
Abigail Haraldson took the loss for Concordia, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits.