ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team was swept in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at St. Catherine University on Thursday, losing by scores of 9-3 and 5-4.
With the two losses, the Gustavus record falls to 21-17 overall and 8-12 in the MIAC.
St. Catherine 9, Gustavus 3 (Box)
After taking an early 3-0 lead, the Gusties surrendered nine runs to drop game one.
The Gusties took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Hannah Heacox (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) led off the game with a base on balls and came around to score from a RBI single from Jena Willis (Sr., Kalispell, Mt.).
Gustavus added another two runs off a hit and a St. Kate’s error to grab a 3-0 lead. Ashley Beise (So., Loretto, Minn.) led off the inning with a walk and was pinch ran for by Emily Webb (So., Maple Lake, Minn.). Webb was then put into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt from Ali Hoffman (Sr., New Prague, Minn.). Heacox knocked in Webb as she reached on an error prior to another run being scored from a Kim Kurtzweg (Jr., Arlington, Minn.) single.
Heacox started in the pitcher’s circle and was knocked out after giving up four runs off five hits in 3.1 innings. Her record falls to 11-10 on the season.
Willis came in to relieve Heacox on the rubber, allowing five more runs despite just one being earned as the Gustavus defense committed two errors. Willis also led the Gusties offensively, with two base hits and a RBI.
St. Catherine 5, Gustavus 4 (Box)
The Gusties put forth a solid rally down 5-1 in the sixth inning, scoring one in the sixth and two in the seventh, one short of tying the game as they dropped their sixth straight game.
Aly Freeman (Fy., Omaha, Neb.) earned her second start of the season in the pitcher’s circle and allowed the Wildcats to jump out to an early 2-0 lead.
After scoring two runs off two hits in the first inning, St. Kate’s one run in the third inning and another two in the fifth, leading 5-1.
Down 3-0 in the fourth inning, a lead off double by Freeman allowed Sidney Welp (Fy., St. Peter, Minn.) to put her on third with a sacrifice bunt. Sarah Pederson (Fy., Blaine, Minn.) then scored Freeman with a sacrifice fly, the first run batted in of her career.
The late-inning rally effort was highlighted by a Welp RBI single in the sixth and a two-run homer from Emily Carlson (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.), the first of her career. Carlson also recorded a career-high four hits, going 4-4 with two runs and two RBI at the plate.
Freeman pitched six innings to notch her first complete game of her career, allowing eight hits and four earned runs along with three strikeouts, suffering her first loss of the year.
“We did a great job of competing today,” said Head Coach Britt Stewart. “Our girls battled until the very last pitch. Aly Freeeman pitched her heart out on the mound and Emily Carlson started smoking the ball again. We also had great base running and some clutch hits, which was a great adjustment from the past few games. I am proud of our leadership. We have been working on living out our three crowns and tonight I can say we did just that. We are working on the process rather than the outcome. We are looking forward to Saturday, and know today was something to build on.”
The Black and Gold return to Gustie Softball Field for its final regular season doubleheader on Saturday, hosting Carleton College on senior day. First game is set for a 1 p.m. start.