Seniors Jena Willis, Hannah Heacox, Brooke Willemsen, Rachel Malo, and Ali Hoffman.
ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team closed out the regular season with an exciting sweep over Carleton College Saturday afternoon at Gustie Softball Field, shutting out the Knights 3-0 in game one before an 11-inning 8-7 thrilling win in game two.
With the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep, the Gusties snapped their six-game losing streak and finished the season with an overall record of 23-17 an a conference clip of 10-12.
Hannah Heacox (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) became the Gustavus Softball all-time leader with her 20th career shutouts along with her fifth career no-hitter to carry the Gusties in the final start of her career.
Heacox also recorded the eventual game-winning run batted in, knocking in Caitlin Kammerer (Fy., Watertown, Minn.) with a bases loaded walk to give the Black and Gold a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
After back-to-back singles from Emily Carlson (Fy., Burnsville, Minn.) and Jena Willis (Sr., Kalispell, Mt.) in the third inning, they advanced into scoring position from an Aly Freeman (Fy., Omaha, Neb.) sacrifice bunt. Brooke Willemsen (Sr., Hamburg, Minn.) then posted a RBI groundout to score Carlson, pushing the lead to 2-0.
Willemsen tied a career-high with her second run batted in, singling to score Willis and give Gustavus a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning, which was enough for Heacox and the Gustie defense to ride for the final two innings.
Willis (2-3), Willemsen (1-2, 2 RBI), and Heacox (1-3, RBI) led Gustavus at the plate.
Despite allowing four bases on balls, Heacox posted 11 strikeouts to earn her 12th win and 19th complete game of the season.
Gustavus 8, Carleton 7 (11 inn.) (Box)
After the Gusties posted a six-run lead after the first inning, Carleton clawed its way back to eventually tie the game at 7-7, where it stood until the 11th inning.
Carleton starting pitcher Emily Boxrud allowed six runs off two hits and four bases on balls, being knocked out of the pitcher’s circle in the first inning by the Gusties. Game one starter Sam Kile came in to relieve Boxrud and pitched the final 10.1 innings. Gustavus saw RBI hits from Willis, Sidney Welp (Fy., St. Peter, Minn.), and Heacox to give the Gusties a 6-0 convincing lead.
The Knights picked up three runs in each the third and fourth inning to eventually find their back into the game. Gustavus added another run in the the third while Carleton added another in the fifth to leave the game knotted at 7-7.
After five scoreless innings, Ali Hoffman (Sr., New Prague, Minn.) knocked in the game-winning run, reaching on an error by the second baseman to score Rachel Malo (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.) and give Gustavus the 8-7 walk off victory.
Jena Willis started game two, lasting 3.2 innings prior to being relieved by Heacox. Heacox earned the win, pitching the final 7.1 innings and notching 12 strikeouts.
Seniors Heacox, Hoffman, Malo, Willemsen, and Willis each recorded hits in both games.
Heacox finishes at or near the top of several categories in the Gustavus record book. She is the career leader with 629 all-time strikeouts, 550.2 innings pitched, 61 complete games, and 20 complete game shutouts. Heacox also finishes second with 103 career appearances, 77 starts, and 56 wins.