ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team hosted its home opener Wednesday and came away with a split against Augsburg. Hannah Heacox (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) threw a no-hitter in a five-inning 8-0 victory, but the Gusties dropped the nightcap 3-0. Gustavus moves to 14-8 overall and 5-3 in the MIAC, while the Auggies move to 15-11 overall and 4-4 in the league.
Gustavus 8, Augsburg 0 (5 inn.) | BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
Heacox recorded the second no-hitter of her collegiate career with five strikeouts and three walks against 17 batters faced to improve to 10-3 on the season. Her first no-hitter was on May 2, 2014 in a 2-0 win at Saint Benedict. Heacox’s no-hitter is the fourth by a Gustie pitcher in the past 10 seasons and first in St. Peter since Joyce DeWitz tossed a no-no against Augsburg on April 2, 2007.
Heacox had the benefit of pitching with a commanding lead after the first inning as the Gusties put up seven runs in the first. Gustavus connected for eight hits and took advantage of one error in the opening frame. The at-bat sequence went single, single, double, double, error, single, single, single, and single.
The Gusties enforced the eight-run rule in the fifth with another run. Ashley Beise (Fy., Loretto, Minn.) reached on an error and later scored on a double off the bat of Ali Hoffman (Jr., New Prague, Minn.).
Gustavus collected 10 hits, led by Rachel Malo (Jr. Owatonna, Minn.) who hit 2-for-3 with a run.
Gustavus 0, Augsburg 3 | BOX SCORE
After pitching four innings of relief in game one, Augsburg’s Samantha Anderson pitched a complete game shutout in game two to earn the series split.
The Auggies scored all three of their runs in the third on three hits and one error.
Jena Willis (Jr., Kalispell, Mt.) suffered the loss after four innings of work. Willis falls to 2-2 on the season after allowing two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Heacox pitched the final three innings without allowing a run. Heacox gave up one hit and struck out four.
Rachel Strandmark (So., New Ulm, Minn.) and Jessica Williams (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) led the Gusties at the plate. Strandmark went 2-for-3 and Williams hit 2-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base.
Gustavus has a quick turnaround as it hosts Macalester at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow.