St. Paul – The Gustavus softball team continued its winning ways with a sweep of Macalester College on Thursday afternoon at the Macalester Softball Complex. With an 8-3 win in game one and a 3-0 win in game two, the Gusties extend their winning streak to nine games and improve to 22-12 overall and 12-4 in the MIAC. Macelster drops to 17-15 overall and 5-10 in the MIAC.
The Gustavus softball team will cap the week with a doubleheader against Bethel University on Saturday at the Gustie Softball Field. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 p.m.
Game One Recap
After a bit of a slow start in the day’s opening game, the Gusties turned it on in the middle innings and cruised to a five run win. After Macalester took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, Gustavus answered with one run in the third, six in the fourth, and another in the fifth.
Gustauvs’s 14-hit performance was led by Jena Willis (So., Glacier, Mont.) who went 4-for-4 with a home run, two runs, and two RBI. Three other Gusties posted multiple-hit games including Breanne Rentschler (Sr., Lakefield, Minn.), Kaitlin Bicek (Jr., Northfield, Minn.), and Hannah Heacox (So., Stillwater, Minn.). Rentschler went 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI, Bicek went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, and Heacox went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run.
Heacox went the distance to improve to 9-3 with the win. She allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits to go along with 13 strikeouts (matching her season high).
Game Two Recap
The Gusties earned the sweep thanks to another shut down outing by Sarah Rozell (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.). Rozell picked up the win after turning in what was her first seven inning shutout of the season. She allowed just three hits and struck out six to improve her record to 7-5. Rozell has allowed two or less runs in her last seven starts.
Gustavus gave its starting pitcher run support by means of a run in the second and third innings, and another in the fifth. Shelby Nosan (Sr., Baudette, Minn.) scored Jessica Williams (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) with a single in the second, and Kailey Morgan (Sr., Mound, Minn.) brought in Carly Klass (Sr., Richfield, Minn.) with a sacrifice fly in the third. The game’s scoring came to a conclusion with a solo home run by Morgan in the fifth.
Morgan finished 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI. Williams went 2-for-2 with a run, and Klass went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run.