ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team on Thursday swept Macalester 4-2 and 8-7 in extra innings to improve to 16-8 overall and 7-3 in the MIAC, while the Scots drop to 9-17 overall and 2-6 in the league.
Rachel Malo connects for a hit. (photos courtesy of AJ Dahm, SPX Sports)
Gustavus 4, Macalester 2 | BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
After two scoreless innings, the Gusties scored a run in the third on a pair of hits. Ali Hoffman (Jr., New Prague, Minn.) singled, moved to second on a sacrifice by Rachel Malo (Jr. Owatonna, Minn.), and scored on a single off the bat of Kaitlyn Bicek (Sr., Northfield, Minn.).
Gustavus took a 2-0 lead in the fifth on a two-out rally. Rachel Strandmark (So., New Ulm, Minn.) singled followed by an RBI double by Bicek. The Scots answered immediately with a two-out rally of their own in the sixth with a pair of runs on two hits. The Gusties had the last say, though, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom half. Nathalee Boissiere (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) singled and was pinch run for by Kim Kurtzweg (So., Arlington, Minn.). Hannah Heacox (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) came to the plate and ripped an RBI single. Heacox later scored on an error.
Bicek (2-3, 2 RBI, 2B), Jessica Williams (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) (2-3), and Hoffman (2-3, R, SB) led the Gusties at the plate. Heacox earned the win in the circle with a complete game effort. Heacox, fresh off a no-hitter yesterday, allowed two earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Jessica Williams fires a pitch home in game two.
Gustavus 8, Macalester 7 (8 inn.) | BOX SCORE
Trailing 6-4 in the top of the seventh and down to their last out, the Scots rallied for three runs after a hit-by-pitch, double, and a home run to take a 7-6 lead, but the Gusties battled back with a run in the bottom half and another in the eighth for the walk-off victory in extra innings.
Macalester shook off its game one loss and put up four runs on three hits in the first inning. Gustavus answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half to the cut the deficit to 4-2. Malo singled and later scored on a passed ball. Strandmark, who singled, then scored on an RBI groundout by Jena Willis (Jr., Kalispell, Mt.).
Gustavus took its first lead of the game in the fourth with three runs on three hits and took advantage of two errors. Williams, Ashley Beise (Fy., Loretto, Minn.), and Brooke Willemsen (Jr., Hamburg, Minn.) all singled in the inning.
The Gusties added an insurance run in the sixth for a 6-4 lead. Ashley Hoffman (Fy., New Prague, Minn.) doubled and was subbed out for Kurtzweg to pinch run. Kurtzweg then scored on a single by Heacox.
Williams started on the rubber and lasted five innings with four earned runs on five hits, a strikeout, and a walk. Heacox came in relief and cruised through the sixth, but ran into trouble in the seventh as the Scots plated three runs. In the bottom half, Bicek singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and was pinch run for by Ali Hoffman. Hoffman then scored on a Heacox single to tie the game and send it to extras.
The Scots went three-up, three-down in the eighth, setting up the walk-off for the Gusties. Kurtzweg reached on an error, advanced on a sac bunt by Beise, went to third on a single by Willemsen, and scored the game-winner on a sac fly by Malo.
Beise (2-3, 3 RBI) and Willemsen (2-4, RBI) led the Gusties at the dish. Heacox earned the win in relief to improve to 12-3 on the season. The Gustie ace went three innings with three earned runs on two hits and four strikeouts.
Gustavus continues its homestand at 1 p.m. Saturday against Saint Mary’s.