ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team earned its second consecutive sweep Saturday, defeating Saint Mary’s 2-1 and 5-1 to improve to 18-8 overall and 9-3 in the MIAC, which is good for second place in the league standings.
Kaitlyn Bicek tags a Saint Mary’s runner out at third base. (photos courtesy of Laura Westphal, SPX Sports)
Gustavus 2, Saint Mary’s 1 | BOX SCORE
As they have all season, the Gusties rode the arm of Hannah Heacox (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) to a slim one-run victory. Heacox went the distance, not allowing an earned run on just three hits with eight strikeouts and three walks. Gustavus collected five hits in the game and both runs were unearned.
After five scoreless innings, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead after a hit and two Gustie errors. In the bottom half, Gustavus answered with a pair of runs on two hits and two errors. Rachel Strandmark (So., New Ulm, Minn.) singled and Jena Willis (Jr., Kalispell, Mt.) doubled to put runners in scoring position. Both scored as Heacox reached on an error, which proved to be the difference in the game.
Rachel Malo fields a ground ball. She had eight putouts and five assists on the day.
Gustavus 5, Saint Mary’s 1 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties used a three-run first inning and a two-run third to complete the sweep. Willis started on the mound and improved to 3-2 on the season after six innings of work. She allowed one earned run on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Heacox tossed the seventh inning and gave up one hit and struck out one.
Kaitlyn Bicek (Sr., Northfield, Minn.) and Willis led the Gusties at the plate. Bicek went 2-for-4 with a run, while Willis also hit 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
The first inning featured a Rachel Malo (Jr., Owatonna, Minn.) hit-by-pitch, Bicek single, and a Willis RBI single for the first run. Nathalee Boissiere (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) then came to the plate and connected for a two-run single for a 3-0 advantage.
In the third frame, Addy Nelsen (Sr., Willmar, Minn.) and Willis scored on an error for the five-run Gustie total. The lone Cardinal run came in the third after three hits and an error.
Gustavus’s scheduled Sunday doubleheader at Concordia has been postponed due to rain and standing water on the field.