KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Gustavus softball team won and lost Saturday in a non-conference doubleheader at the Osceola Softball Complex, defeating Ramapo College 4-0 and falling to Rowan University 6-2.
The Gusties, now 10-2 overall, saw their eight-game win streak come to an end in the doubleheader split during day three of their spring trip.
“We have been playing top level competition, developing mental toughness and continuing to work on executing in all aspects of the game,” said Head Coach Britt Stewart. “We are learning how to play together and fight through challenges and adversity. We have great energy each game and have to continue to work on playing relaxed, but focused at the same time. Hannah Heacox (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) has been leading the squad both at the plate and on the mound. I am very proud of her grit and hope we can build off of that going forward.”
Gustavus 4, Ramapo 0 (Box Score)
Aly Freeman (Fy., Omaha, Neb.) hit a three-run home run in the first inning to lead Gustavus to a game one win.
The Gusties began the third inning with leadoff singles from Heacox and Kim Kurtzweg (Jr., Arlington, Minn.) before Freeman homered to right field, her first of her collegiate career to give Gustavus the early 3-0 lead.
Gustavus added another run off two hits in the third inning, pushing the lead to 4-0. Ashley Beise (So., Loretto, Minn.) singled up the middle to reach base before Emily Carlson (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.) notched her first collegiate two-bagger to knock in Beise and solidify the 4-0 win, as Heacox and the Gustie defense shutout Ramapo.
Heacox started her seventh game on the rubber and allowed just five hits in her sixth complete game of the season. She picked up six strikeouts and improved her record to 5-1.
Beise and Heacox led the Black and Gold offense, each tallying two hits while Freeman led with three RBI.
Rowan 6, Gustavus 2 (Box Score)
The Gusties were limited to just three total hits as a team in game two.
Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning, Rowan battled back to score six unanswered runs to snap the Gusties’ eight-game win streak.
Gustavus was able to collect two runs without any base hits in the third, capitalizing on a base on balls and a Rowan error. Rachel Malo (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.) led off with a walk before Heacox reached base on an error by the left fielder. They both came around to score, Malo giving the Gusties a 1-0 lead after Kurtzweg reached on a fielder’s choice, and Beise grounding out to the short stop to score Heacox.
Heacox suffered her second loss of the season in the circle while registering nine strikeouts in six innings. She allowed nine hits off six runs, just two of them earned.
The Black and Gold continues its 2017 spring trip tomorrow with another doubleheader. The Gusties face Westminster at 9 a.m. prior to a matchup with Illinois Wesleyan at 1:30 p.m.
“The spring trip has been a great learning opportunity to try people in different positions, work on plays and situations, try different line ups and learn how to play together as a team,” Stewart commented. “Our hope is to get better each day to be able to compete consistently. When we put everything together, we are a tough team to beat.”