Rachel Malo makes a great defensive play in game one. (Photo courtesy of Roisen Granlund '17, Gustavus Sports Information)
ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team was swept by the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference leader in the College of Saint Benedict Saturday afternoon, losing 7-4 and 5-3 at Gustie Softball Field.
The Gusties fall to 15-11 overall and 2-6 in MIAC play while the Blazers remain undefeated during conference play at 8-0 and 19-5 overall.
Saint Benedict 7, Gustavus 4 (Box)
A four-run third inning by the Blazers was costly for the Gusties in game one, proving to be to much as they were unable to battle back from the 5-2 deficit.
Gustavus grabbed an early 2-1 lead after the first inning. (Hannah Heacox, Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) led off with a single up the middle and then scored off a Jena Willis (Sr., Kalispell, Mt.) single to knot the game at 1-1. Another single from Aly Freeman (Fy., Omaha, Neb.) scored Willis to give the Gusties a 2-1 lead.
Saint Ben’s tallied four runs off two hits and three Gustie defensive errors to claim a 5-2 lead in the third inning, carrying that lead for the remainder of the game. They added a cushion with another two runs in the fifth to post a 7-2 lead before Gustavus pushed back in the seventh.
The Black and Gold looked for a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, needing five runs to tie the game. Ashley Beise (So., Loretto, Minn.) first reached base with a single to left center before the Gusties began a two-out rally. Caitlin Kammerer (Fy., Watertown, Minn.) also singled prior to a bases clearing double from Rachel Malo (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.) to cut the Blazer lead to 7-4, but a Heacox groundout ended the game.
Heacox got the start in the pitcher’s circle, allowing six hits and just two earned runs despite suffering her sixth loss of the season.
Heacox also led the Gustie offense, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Freeman (1-3, 1 RBI), Jessica Neuman (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) (1-3, 2B), and Malo (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI) had strong games as well.
Saint Benedict 5, Gustavus 3 (Box)
With the game tied 1-1 after four innings, Saint Ben’s notched three runs in the fifth inning en route to a sweep over the Gusties.
Down 1-0 in the fourth inning, Gustavus tied the game with a RBI double from Neuman, her second two-bagger of the series.
Heacox stayed on the rubber for game two, earning her second-straight start. She had giving up a run off two hits through four innings before the Blazers broke open in the fifth, scoring three runs off three hits and a Gustie error to take a 4-1 lead.
Despite the three-run dagger, Gustavus answered in the bottom half with two runs to get back within one run. After a Freeman walk and Heacox single, Emily Carlson (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.) recorded a two-run double as the scoreboard read 4-3 in favor of Saint Ben’s.
The fifth inning was all the offense the Gusties came up with as the Blazers added another run in the seventh and closed out the game with a 5-3 victory and series sweep.
Heacox took another loss as her record falls to 8-7 on the season, giving up four earned runs off nine hits.
Heacox, Carlson, and Neuman each registered two hits each to lead Gustavus at the plate.
“I could not be happier with how we played and competed today,” said Head Coach Britt Stewart. “We are hitting the ball offensively and getting some clutch hits when we need runs. We need to continue to clean up our defense and we will give ourselves opportunities to win more games. Overall we are playing better and have a lot more conference games ahead of us. The wins will come if we keep believing in the process.”
Gustavus Notes
- Hannah Heacox pitched two complete games and picked up her third-straight multi-hit game.
- Rachel Malo has 10 RBI in the last six games.
- Jessica Neuman and Jena Willis recorded hits in both games, extending their hit streaks to four games.
Gustavus heads to Macalester College tomorrow afternoon for another MIAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Macalester Softball Complex in St. Paul, Minn.