TUCSON, Ariz. – The Gustavus softball team concluded the Tucson Invitational Sunday with a 6-2 loss to UW-Eau Claire, moving to 6-4 overall. The Blugolds took an early 4-0 lead after the first two innings, which proved to be too large of a deficit for the Gusties to come back from.
UW-Eau Claire plated a run in the first frame after three consecutive singles. The Blugolds then went ahead 4-0 in the next inning on three singles, a double and a sacrifice.
UW-Eau Claire took a 5-0 advantage in the fourth on three hits and a Gustie error. Gustavus was able to end the shutout in the fifth with a run on two hits. Rachel Malo (Jr., Owatonna, Minn.) walked followed by a single off the bat of Kaitlyn Bicek (Sr., Northfield, Minn.). Nathalee Boissiere (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) then singled to score Malo.
The Gusties scored their second run of the game in the sixth inning. Emily Webb (Fy., Maple Lake, Minn.) tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ali Hoffman (Jr., New Prague, Minn.), but that would be all the offense for the Gusties as the Blugolds added an insurance run in the sixth for a 6-2 final.
Jessica Williams (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) suffered the loss after four innings of work. She allowed five runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts. Hannah Heacox (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) threw two innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Rachel Strandmark (So., New Ulm, Minn.) and Bicek led the Gusties at the plate, each going 2-for-3.
Gustavus is off until March 28 when it takes on Bethel to open MIAC play.