KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Gustavus softball team opened up play in the Central Florida Rebel Spring Games Thursday, coming away with two wins as they defeated Thomas More College 7-5 and Aurora University 7-0, improving its record to 7-1 overall.
“We are starting to play some better softball, said Head Coach Britt Stewart. “The girls are coming together offensively and defensively. We are getting leads early in games, pitching the ball well and helping our staff out by making great plays behind them. Hitters have been able to string hits together and execute plays which helps to increase runs. Anytime that you can put up 14 runs in a day, always helps our pitchers relax a little more on the mound. I am hopeful that we will continue this through our Florida trip and the remainder of season.”
Gustavus 7, Thomas More 5 (Box Score)
Through the first four innings, the Gusties trailed 1-0. The offense broke through in the fifth for six runs off five hits. The Gusties began a two-out rally starting with a Rachel Malo (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.) single, followed by another from Hannah Heacox (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) to put Gustavus on the board. Aly Freeman (Fy., Omaha, Neb.), Ashley Beise (So., Loretto, Minn.), and Emily Carlson (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.) also added RBI singles as the Black and Gold grabbed a 6-1 lead.
Thomas More pushed back in the bottom half, tallying two runs to cut the Gustie lead to 6-3. However, Gustavus added another while surrendering a late seventh inning home run, claiming a 7-5 win. Hannah Heacox started the game on the rubber, going four inning before she was relieved by Jena Willis. Willis finished the game to earn the win, her third of the season.
Heacox led Gustavus offensively, going 3-4 with 2 RBI at the plate. Beise and Carlson also picked up 2 RBI.
Gustavus 7, Aurora 0 (Box Score)
Jena Willis stayed in the circle in game two, starting her third game of the season. She went six innings to notch the win and improve her record to 4-0.
Early runs helped Willis and the Gustie defense play comfortably as the offense jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
A couple of Aurora defensive errors helped the Black and Gold jump out to a 1-0 lead before RBI singles from Ashley Beise, Emily Carlson, and Emily Webb (So., Maple Lake, Minn.) pushed the lead to 4-0. The Gusties added one more run in the third and another two in the sixth to secure the 7-0 victory.
The offense was led by Aly Freeman (3-3, 1 RBI), Beise (2-4, 1 RBI), and Carlson (2-4, 1 RBI).
Tomorrow, Gustavus has another two games at the Osceola Softball Complex. The Gusties are set to face Simpson College at 9 a.m. and Plattsburgh State at 1:30 p.m.